LEWIS HAMILTON is bracing himself for another 10-hour pizza marathon when he starts contract negotiations – but it doesn’t mean he is joining Ferrari.
Hamilton has been linked with a switch to the Italian team after Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted in November that there was a 25 per cent chance of his star driver jumping ship.
Lewis Hamilton is relaxed, despite contract negotiations with Mercedes yet to commenceCredit: Reuters
Hamilton, who ground to a halt during preseason testing in Barcelona on Thursday due to an oil pressure problem, says talks over a new deal are imminent.
He said: “It is crazy because there is all this talk, but I have a certain approach in that I don’t stress. I trust Toto and we have that trust between us.
“We have told each other what our goals are, what our aims are and our commitments, so I don’t ever feel like there is necessarily any rush.
“But then sometimes Toto is like ‘is everything OK?’, so we keep the channel open and I am sure in the near future we will start to sit down.”
Ten! He locked me in there…We had a pizza.
Toto Wolff on how many hours Hamilton’s last contract negotiation took
Turning to his Merc boss, Hamilton added: “Last time it was done in my apartment in Monaco – how many hours was it?”
And Wolff replied: “Ten! He locked me in there…We had a pizza.”
Hamilton is out of contract at the end of this season, which is worth around £40million a year.
SunSport understands the six-time world champion could be pushing for as much as £60million a year from his Mercedes bosses, along with a reduced number of contracted days set aside for sponsors.
Wolff added that while the two have yet to discuss Hamilton’s wage demands, he says he knows the value of the reigning world champion.
He added: “I said maybe we should sit down and have the chat but I think I know so well where he is going to go, and he knows where I am.
“It is about finding a day where we spend a few hours together and that is what we have done in the past.
“We have that respect I know the contribution Lewis brings to the team as a driver and as a brand and you always need to respect that.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton appears to have cooled talk of him joining Ferrari, despite the Maranello team confirming they have spoken to the 35-year-old.
The Brit said that it would be short-term thinking to drive for the Italian team and says he enjoys being part of Mercedes’ set-up.
He said: “If you look at all drivers who have driven for Ferrari, it is an incredible team, the car is always a beautiful red and red is the colour of passion and love.
“But if you look at what Mercedes have done for all their drivers. Look at Sir Stirling Moss, he is still part of the team.
“They honour that and you become part of a legacy and form a life-long partnership which I think is super appealing.”
Meanwhile, German touring car series, DTM, have switched venues for their preseason testing.
It was due in Monza on March 16 but they have swapped tracks and will run in Hockenheim in Germany due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in Italy.
Hamilton has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with MercedesCredit: EPA
ITR Managing Director Marcel Mohaupt said: “It’s become increasingly apparent that the spread and containment of the coronavirus is sadly affecting society in many different and deepening ways.
“With the safety and well-being of everyone at the forefront of our thinking, we took the decision to relocate our pre-season test to a different venue.”
F1 races are still going ahead in Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam, despite the spread of the deadly virus.
Lewis Hamilton talks about his experience testing the new Mercedes W11 Formula 1 racing car
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
