Mercedes-Benz

LEWIS HAMILTON and Fernando Alonso will go head-to-head before a wheel has turned this season.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team will launch their challenger for 2021 on March 2 – and now the newly-rebranded Alpine team have picked the same date.

Lewis Hamilton will help unveil Mercedes’ 2021 car on March 2Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Fernando Alonso is plotting a route back to the top with AlpineCredit: AP:Associated Press

It means both will be vying for coverage, as Alpine unveil their new livery since changing their name from Renault.
Alonso, who drives for the French team, is recovering after undergoing surgery on a broken jaw following an accident on his bike in Switzerland.
The 39-year-old is making his F1 comeback this year after quitting McLaren in 2018.
The two-time world champion spent one turbulent season at McLaren with Hamilton in 2007 before quitting and returning to Renault.

Alonso will be hoping he can get up to speed and challenge Hamilton for wins.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo got his first taste of driving McLaren’s new F1 car at Silverstone on Tuesday.
The Aussie, who joined from Renault, took to the track for a designated filming day to put the new car through a series of tests.
It also allowed McLaren to assess the strength of their new Mercedes engine having parted with Renault over the winter.

Ricciardo says he is confident having joined the Woking-based team and says they are on an upward trajectory.
He said: “I feel like I’m coming here with a bunch of momentum behind the team as well.
“There’s really good stability in the team, infrastructure. I’m basically just fitting into the puzzle as opposed to trying to put it all together.
“I’m certainly feeling good about it. It all feels pretty right at the moment.
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McLaren were first out the block in unveiling their 2021 carCredit: PA:Press Association

“Do I know how it will turn out? I don’t. But I certainly feel McLaren have done the right things to set themselves up in particular for these rule changes coming in 2022.
“I think that next era of F1 has the ability to certainly turn the field around a little bit.
“Everything I’ve seen and everything I’ve known up until now certainly excites me about where McLaren is heading.”

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IT took ages to get done, but finally Lewis Hamilton has signed a new contract with Mercedes.
The biggest surprise however is that his reported £40million contract will only run for 10 months.

Lewis Hamilton has finally signed on the dotted line to race in 2021Credit: PA

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has explained the process behind the dealCredit: Reuters

So why not the usual three year-deal for Hamilton as expected? After all, he was simply untouchable in 2020 as he won his record-equalling seventh world title.
Well, it actually makes perfect sense for both Hamilton and Mercedes, with Toto Wolff admitting that both parties agreed that the short-term contract was the best solution.
Team boss Wolff said: “We jointly agreed to do a one-year deal.
“First of all there is a substantial regulation change in 2022.

“We also want to see how the world develops.”
Hamilton will turn 37 five days after this latest deal expires and has been weighing up life after F1 for several months.
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Throughout the 2020 campaign he dropped little hints that he was considering his future.

He has openly spoken about his other projects in fashion and music while he is now a racing team owner in the electric off-road series, Extreme E.
Hamilton has also expressed his desire to remain at Mercedes in some capacity when he quits F1 and the establishment of a foundation between them in the new deal certainly lends itself to the legacy that he is trying to achieve.
Wolff added: “The foundation was a joint idea that came up whilst we were discussing the new contract because we felt that making a real financial contribution to our diversity and equality project was an important statement.
“Also it felt like the right thing to do and it shows our long-term commitment to each other because it is a multi-million investment into the foundation, which we are going to run jointly.
“That was a joint idea between Lewis and us. We felt it was a very important topic to address.

“The foundation is also a long-term commitment of ourselves and we are already very active in that field as Mercedes and the specific projects we define together and that’s not going to happen from one week to the other.”
As for Mercedes, the stop-gap makes total sense as they prepare for 2022 and a new set of regulations that are designed to shake up the order of F1.
While Hamilton can see if he likes the look of the future of F1, Merc too can make a call based on George Russell’s performances.
After all, Valtteri Bottas is also out of contract at the end of this year, so Mercedes have the option to completely change their lineup if they wish to do so.
The one thing which is clear is that despite the threat of more disruptions to this season due to cancelled races due to coronavirus, Mercedes will not hang around in making their decision.
Unlike last year where they were willing to wait for Hamilton, this time it could be them calling the shots.

We have agreed that we don’t want to drag it on as much or as long as we did this time around.
Toto WolffOn Talks For 2022

Wolff said: “The talks for 2022 will start earlier than the 2021 deal.
“It’s always tricky to find some time whilst racing but we have learned the lesson that there can be external factors that can delay discussions and we don’t want to end up in January again.
“So probably we are going to pick up chatting about 2022 much earlier. We have agreed that we don’t want to drag it on as much or as long as we did this time around.”

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LEWIS HAMILTON has finally signed his new deal with Mercedes – estimated to be worth up to £40million.
The Brit, who had been out of contract since January 1, has committed to Mercedes for another year.

Lewis Hamilton has committed his future to Mercedes for 2021Credit: Reuters

The deal will run for just one more year and includes a charitable donation to help increase diversity in F1.
Hamilton, 36, will go into his 15th season in F1 looking to win a record eighth world title – surpassing the joint-record he currently holds with Michael Schumacher.
Hamilton already holds the record for the most wins (95), pole positions (98) and podium finishes (165).
Mercedes say the new deal will “form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport”.

Hamilton said: “I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates.
“Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.

Hamilton and Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff have agreed on the world champion’s contract after months of talksCredit: PA:Press Association
“I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue.

“I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport.
“I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”
Mercedes’ CEO and team boss, Toto Wolff, added ahead of a press conference on Monday afternoon: “We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue.
“But the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process.
“Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport.
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“Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners.
“The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”
Following Monday’s announcement, fans can look forward to the Mercs unveiling their 2021 car on March 2.
Testing in Bahrain gets underway on March 12 with the season opener in the desert two weeks later.

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BERNIE ECCLESTONE has called on Mercedes to offer Lewis Hamilton a ‘take it or leave it’ contract.
Negotiations over the world champion’s seat in the coming season continue to rumble on.

Bernie Ecclestone has given his take on Lewis Hamilton’s contract sagaCredit: AP:Associated Press

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had promised that an agreement would be found ‘soon’ but Hamilton remains the only driver on the grid without a contract.
Ecclestone, 90, ran the Brabham team in the 1970s and 80s before heading F1 itself for a number of decades and he set out how he would approach the Hamilton talks.
He told F1 Insider: “I would have made it quite clear to Lewis.
“Either you take what we offer you now – or you leave it.

“Everyone is replaceable. Only one person decides who drives here – and that’s me!”
Ecclestone recalled a similar negotiation with multiple world champion Nelson Piquet at Brabham in the mid-1980s.

Hamilton is yet to confirm his Mercedes seat for 2021Credit: PA:Press Association

Ecclestone recalled his attempt to bring Ayrton Senna to Brabham in 1984Credit: Reuters
An up-and-coming Ayrton Senna had caught the Brit’s eye but star man Piquet helped veto the call.
Ecclestone continued: “In 1983 we became world champion with Nelson Piquet.

“I had to decide who would drive alongside him in 1984. We had an extremely good test with a young Brazilian driver called Ayrton Senna.
“I wanted him. When Nelson heard about it, he really got upset and reacted like a defiant child.
“He absolutely did not want Senna as a team-mate. He immediately recognised his potential. But I didn’t care.
“Our main sponsor Parmalat didn’t want two Brazilians. I weighed everything carefully.
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“In the end, peace in the team was more important to me.
“But since I was also the head of the constructors’ association, I made sure that Senna got a job elsewhere, with Toleman.
“I knew he was going to be the future superstar, so I really wanted to see him in Formula One.”

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LEWIS HAMILTON’S delay in agreeing a new contract with Mercedes has become ’embarrassing’, according to Ralf Schumacher.
The Brit equalled Ralf’s brother Michael’s record of seven world championship titles last year.

Lewis Hamilton is yet to put pen to paper on a contract to race in 2021Credit: PA:Press Association

Ralf Schumacher, with brother Michael, believes a deal should have been signed by nowCredit: AFP

But a deal to race in 2021 is still yet to be signed, making the defending champ the last driver on the grid to agree to race next season.
For Schumacher, the delay has gone on long enough.
He is quoted by Speedweek as describing the situation as: “A shame and almost a bit embarrassing.”
He added: “It’s February now, and the most important man in Formula One, the seven-time world champion, has still not been confirmed.

“I always hear that it’s all about the money, but I hope that’s not true.
“Hamilton in particular, given his humanitarian streak, has to understand that you cannot demand 100 per cent in these times.

“And Hamilton also has to be clear – Formula One is bigger than any individual.

“Maybe Hamilton should give himself a jolt now.”
Schumacher, who won six F1 races during a decade-long career in the sport, also reminded Hamilton that Mercedes are not tied to the 36-year-old.
George Russell impressed when replacing Hamilton for a race last year.
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And the German believes the ‘risk’ of being permanently dropped for a younger driver is something the defending champ should ‘never forget’.
Reports this week suggested Merc have given their star a one-month deadline to put pen to paper.
Team boss Toto Wolff said recently that an agreement will be reached ‘soon’ but ruled out a three-year contract.
Former F1 chief Eddie Jordan has told SunSport that he believes Hamilton wants to negotiate a better cut of sponsorship and TV money.

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