Lewis Hamilton's contract agreement with Mercedes leaves ex-team-mate speechless

24 July 2023 , 09:04

1292     0

Lewis Hamilton has yet to agree a contract extension (Image: Marco Canoniero/REX/Shutterstock)

Lewis Hamilton's former team-mate Nico Rosberg has responded to claims from Mercedes principal Toto Wolff that the English driver's new contract is "emotionally done".

Hamilton, who finished fourth in Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, has yet to extend a deal which expires at the end of the 2023 season. In theory, the former world champion could still find a new drive next term, but Wolff appears unworried by the state of play.

"The status is we haven't signed it (the contract) but emotionally we have done it," Wolff told Sky Sports after final practice. The Austrian had previously said the hold-up over an extension wasn't money-related.

Rosberg, however, was left a little confused by the state of play. The German, who was Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate for the Brit's 2014 and 2015 world titles, questioned what Wolff's words meant in practice.

“Can someone tell me what that means when a contract is emotionally done?" Rosberg said on Sky Sports (via GPFans ). "I have no idea where they are at, or why Lewis is taking so much time.

Inside De Vries' long road to F1 including pressure after Hamilton example set

"All of us hope that he will continue of course, and it really seems to be the case. Especially with the car progressing now, that’s going to help that contract process also.

"Once Lewis now feels the possibility ‘Hey I can do pole positions again, I can win races, yeah I want to continue doing this’."

Will Lewis Hamilton still be with Mercedes in 2024? Have your say in the comments section

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were team-mates for several years (AFP via Getty Images)

Hamilton started the Hungarian Grand Prix on pole position, pipping rival Max Verstappen, but a nightmare start put paid to his chances of victory. The former world champion eventually finished fourth, which is also his overall position in the drivers championship standings, while runaway leader Verstappen sits more than 100 points clear of the field and looks destined to retain his crown.

"I had a bit of wheelspin and then obviously Max was on the inside and he ran me wide and I got done by the two McLarens," he said after the race. So, definitely not a great start, kind of reminiscent of 2015 when I fell back from first.

After that, just didn't have the pace to keep up with the guys. The balance in the car was pretty awful on that first stint, a lot of understeer and oversteer through corner balance and I just couldn't keep up with them.

"So then, bit by bit, as we got through the next couple of stints, the car started to become more drivable, and then the last stint obviously was much better. If we had had the pace we had at the end, we would have been a little bit better I think through the day."

Tom Victor