Why just a one year contract for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes and does that mean he could retire from F1 at the end of 2021? Team principal Toto Wolff answers the key questions after the new world champion’s contract was finally confirmed
By James Galloway
Last updated: 08/02/21 6:53 pm
1:35
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff maintains that ‘there was never a moment’ where the team believed Lewis Hamilton would not sign a new contract after signing a one-year contract for the 2021 season.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff maintains that ‘there was never a moment’ where the team believed Lewis Hamilton would not sign a new contract after signing a one-year contract for the 2021 season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has explained why they only agreed to a one-year contract extension with Lewis Hamilton.
A contract for Hamilton’s seven-time champion to continue with Mercedes into the ninth season was finally announced Monday, but his short-term nature caused surprise.
Formal talks on video conferencing between Hamilton and Wolff only began in the Christmas week and, with the old world championship contract expiring in early 2021, came the need for approval for at least the new season. to be necessary.
“We both agreed on a one-year contract,” Wolff, Mercedes F1 team principal and co-owner, said at a keynote press conference after the agreement was announced.
“First is major regulatory change in 2022. We also want to see how the world develops, and the company.
4:31 Craig Slater answers some key questions related to the news that Lewis Hamilton has signed a new year’s contract at Mercedes
“On the other hand, because we kept it very late … it was important to get it done as quickly as possible. In that regard we thought we would push the debate around 2022 on and on to a later stage in 2021. “
Despite all sorts of speculation a few weeks ago about the confirmed aspects of the contract negotiations, Wolff called out that “the issue of money was not the catching point” and ultimately “it was more about ‘let’s get to it fast for 2021’ ”.
The Mercedes team principal also made suggestions that Hamilton had called for a ‘Verstappen clause’ – an effective veto on future teammates beyond 2021.
Extending the reasons for wanting more time to talk about 2022 and beyond, Wolff said: “There is uncertainty in the world that affects how we can for the sport to operate that affects our revenue, TV money, sponsorship revenue.
“Daimler and Mercedes are in a major transformation towards the transition to electricity and that means investing, so we live in a different financial position than it was a few years ago.
“But having said that, we are completely in line, Lewis and I, the group in general and Mercedes, about the situation. So there was no difference of opinion.”
Could Hamilton retire at the end of 2021?
4:31 Craig Slater answers some key questions related to the news that Lewis Hamilton has signed a new year’s contract at Mercedes
Although Hamilton has promised a 15th season of Formula 1 and is in pursuit of the eighth most prestigious title this year, his midfield future in the sport remains unresolved with Monday’s announcement.
Hamilton said at the end of last year he was still unsure how long he wanted to continue racing. But Wolff believes the 36-year-old can continue for longer than this year.
“As far as he enjoys racing, I think he’s pretty capable of going further,” Wolff said.
“He develops as a self-employed driver in terms of physical training and mental preparation, so I don’t think in terms of potential which will end in 2021. But eventually is his decision. “
Wolff said they would enter into negotiations about 2022 “much earlier” than last year. He reiterated that while Lewis will have to decide what lies ahead for him “, Mercedes also needed to think about their long – term driver options.
Valtteri Bottas is also on a one-year contract, while renowned protein maker George Russell, whose career is managed by Mercedes, is in the final year of Williams’ three-year term.
“Valtteri and Lewis have 100 per cent commitment and loyalty for 2021, we will support them with everything we have,” Wolff explained.
“We look further this year and say: ‘what line do we think in 2022 and beyond? ‘
“Our first discussions with Valtteri and Lewis will be about respecting our values of loyalty and integrity but on the other hand it is the young drivers of the future so we need to consider how we are. to establish ourselves for years to come. “
If it wasn’t already controversial by then, Russell put himself firmly in the shop window for 2022 after taking on Hamilton’s place at Sakhir GP in December after he was caught by world champion coronavirus.