FORMULA ONE’s new CEO Stefano Domenicali has urged Lewis Hamilton to sign his new Mercedes deal.
Hamilton is out of contract and yet to agree terms over an expected two-year deal worth £40million a season.
Lewis Hamilton has been urged to hurry up and sign a new Mercedes contractCredit: PA:Press Association
Incoming F1 supremo Stefano Domenicali implored the Brit to sort it soonCredit: PA:Press Association
Former team boss Eddie Jordan told SunSport last week that he believed Hamilton was also angling for a slice of Merc’s TV revenue.
While news of him committing to the team is expected imminently, Domenicali wants the world champion to stay on and fight for a record eighth title.
He said: “I really hope that we can have this announcement soon because what he’s going to fight for this year is something that from a sporting perspective is incredible.
“I can imagine the pressure and the dynamic on how he wants to reach this new record because that would be an incredible story to tell.
“So the only thing I can say is that I really hope that personally if they are still talking, it’s great, I just remind them that the first (race) will be the end of March – Bahrain!
“Lewis is a massive ambassador for F1. He is also an ambassador for other values and points that are really relevant.
“He is really very important to F1 because he is embracing other values and bringing them into the discussion and putting his face to points out of the normal sport.”
Domenicali was quizzed as to what the hold up could be on Hamilton’s contract and he felt it was more than just his salary.
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He added: “I think they are talking about a lot of stuff. I’m sure that Lewis wants to understand a lot of points also on his own future.
“But, I want to see him still very very involved in Formula One. It is his life, he may be interested in other things because we can see that he has a lot of interests.
“Therefore, I think they are discussing a lot of points. I don’t think it is only a point related to his salary.
“I think it’s more related to what they have in mind to share together in the future. I think that’s the reason why.”
The Italian is a former Ferrari team boss and replaces outgoing CEO, Chase Carey. He is a breath of fresh air for the sport.
He will uproot his family from Italy to move to London to run F1 where he will continue the transition from Bernie Ecclestone’s outdated model.
‘WE RACE AS ONE’
He has set up a meeting with F1’s stars to outline his plans to help transform the sport.
He said: “I sent a letter to all the drivers, also to president of the GPDA Alex Wurz, because I wanted to share how important it is they understand their value in being a positive ambassador for F1, not only the sport but also the values on which F1 is focussed.
“The ‘we race as one’ project, the diversity and sustainability projects. I invited them to a meeting — the target is to have it in Bahrain – to discuss and share this opportunity.
“We have never had so many fantastic drivers in F1 and we cannot lose the opportunity in making sure they understand they are more than drivers.
“I would like to invest a lot of time, not only on the sporting side but I want to share how I believe we should work together using our platform and their role model to push for issues that are important for our society.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
