LEWIS HAMILTON is demanding £40million per year to sign a new contract at Mercedes, it’s been claimed.
The British star, 35, is only under contract until the end of the 2020 season.
Lewis Hamilton wants £40m a year to stay on at MercedesCredit: AP:Associated Press
And Hamilton – a six-time world champion – is looking for a boost to his already sky-high £36m-a-year wages.
The Mercedes ace is set to reveal his demands to boss Toto Wolff in the coming weeks, claim the Daily Mail.
Hamilton is already the richest sportsperson in Britain, worth an estimated £224m.
He is also the most-well-paid driver on the F1 grid.
Hamilton may have one fewer bargaining chip for upcoming talks, though.
The British champ had hoped to spark a bidding war with Ferrari.
But with the Italian manufacturer now settling its line-up for 2021, that is out of the question.
Talks of a new contract at Mercedes stalled due to the enforced lockdown.
But with F1 back this weekend, starting with the Austrian Grand Prix, Hamilton and Wolff will be spending much more time together.
And it’s believed serious negotiations over a new deal will be one of the hot topics in the paddock.
Both Hamilton and Wolff are said to be “relaxed” about the impending talks.
However, both money AND the length of the contract could be potential stumbling blocks.
Coronavirus has sorely affected finances in sport and with half of the F1 calendar already wiped out, teams are feeling it in their pocket – and may not be willing to offer the best-paid racer a pay-rise.
Lewis Hamilton will race in a new, black Mercedes in support of the Black Lives Matter movement
On top of that, Hamilton must decide whether he wants to pull down the curtain on his career at Mercedes – or finally have a crack at racing in the iconic red of Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz is believed to have only signed a one-year deal at Ferrari after finishing this season with McLaren.
And that would mean a seat opening up in 2022 – something Hamilton will certainly be aware of.
The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt
Lewis Hamilton returns to track for first time in over 100 days at Silverstone
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
