Mercedes only has a one-year Lewis Hamilton contract but 2022 talks will start ‘much earlier’ this season, says Toto Wolff; Wolff adds that F1 are the ‘young drivers of the future’ but that Hamilton and Merc still have a ‘long-term commitment’ due to a charitable co-founder
By Matt Morlidge
Last updated: 09/02/21 4:13 pm
Mercedes will start talks on Lewis Hamilton’s next contract “much earlier” after the delay to his 2021 contract, says Toto Wolff – who has been under pressure, although the team is considering their line-up. in the future, that there is still a “long-term commitment” to the most successful driver at F1.
One of F1’s biggest off-season sagas was finally settled on Monday when Mercedes confirmed a new contract for their seven-time champion – although a stunning one-year deal means Hamilton is a poor agent. free again for 2022, raising the expectation that it will be drawn in the same way -out negotiations.
However, Wolff, who explained Hamilton ‘s contract in a press release, has insisted that both the team and the driver are linked to wanting a resolution earlier this season, after starting their most recent conversations just before Christmas.
Asked when they could start this year, the team leader said: “Absolutely earlier than the 2021 contract!
“It’s always hard to find some time while racing but we’ve learned the lesson that external factors can delay conversations and we don’t want to end it in January. again, so it looks like we’ll be looking around 2022 much earlier.
1:18 Martin Brundle thinks Lewis Hamilton’s new one-year deal with Mercedes is ‘unusual’ and that it may be a goal for both parties to keep their options open for 2022.
“We both agreed that we didn’t want it to slow down as much or as long as we did this trip and we’re trying to find some time together throughout the season.”
Hamilton will be aiming for an eighth unprecedented F1 title this season, set to kick off on March 28, although a one-year deal will only provide a hint that the Briton could retire at the end of 2021. .
With Valtteri Bottas’ contract also coming to an end this year, as well as George Russell’s contract at Williams – the young Mercedes man who shone when he replaced Hamilton in Bahrain last season – Wolff admitted to the team was thinking about their next move.
“Our first conversations with Valtteri and Lewis will be about respecting our values, integrity and loyalty – but on the other hand it is the young drivers of the future,” Wolff said.
“So we have to consider how we want to establish ourselves for years to come.”
Wolff: Co-existence demonstrates ‘long-term commitment’
But Wolff also celebrated Mercedes and Hamilton’s new charitable foundation – which began with the intention to support greater diversity in motor sport and was confirmed by the new contract – as a sign that both sides ‘Long-term’ thinking and not just for 2021.
“The constitution was a concept that emerged during the negotiation of the new contract as we felt it was an important statement to address. make a significant contribution to our diversity and equality project, “he said.
“Also on that subject, he felt the right thing to do and it shows our long-term commitment to each other because it is a multi-million pound investment in the foundation we are going to build. running together.
“We felt it was a very important issue to address.”
4:31 Craig Slater answers some key questions related to the news that Lewis Hamilton has signed a new year contract at Mercedes.
The idea for the foundation came from Daimler chief Ola Kalenius, who said: “Lewis was enthusiastic about the idea.
“We are going to run it together and it also shows that alliances and relationships are far beyond 2021 but in the longer term.
“As I have said before, we have put a huge sum of one million euros into the foundation which is our real commitment to influence.”