Mercedes-Benz

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.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reveals Lewis Hamilton arguing with Mercedes and curveballs thrown at lawyers in messy contract saga More

THE DOMINATION of Mercedes in Formula One is a ‘problem’ for the sport ahead of a familiar-looking 2021 season, says Eddie Jordan.
Lewis Hamilton is the clear favourite for a record-breaking eighth title with a team that has stood head and shoulders above its rivals for the best part of a decade.

Lewis Hamilton is the huge favourite for an eighth F1 world titleCredit: Reuters

Former team boss Eddie Jordan worries about Mercedes’ dominationCredit: Getty Images

F1 is set to enact a rule overhaul in 12 months’ time, partly as a result of Mercedes’ unchallenged supremacy.
But the year ahead is likely to look rather similar to the previous seasons that the Mercs, and 36-year-old Hamilton in particular, have dominated.
Former team boss Jordan told BBC Scotland: “The sport is in a difficult situation because no-one can put their finger on Mercedes.
“They do it better than anybody else.

“Racing Point won a race last year, that was amazing from Sergio Perez, and Max Verstappen won the last race but that shouldn’t confuse people into thinking it will be much more open.
“Mercedes have the best people and the best engine, so how can they not win the championship? That’s a problem for me.
“It’s difficult to find the right sponsorship and you’re just not going to compete with that.”

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Mercedes were on pole for all but two races in 2020 and Hamilton won the title by 124 points despite missing the Sakhir Grand Prix with coronavirus.

The Brit is the final racer to be confirmed for the new season having so far failed to agree a new contract with the German marque.
Merc boss Toto Wolff recently claimed the deal will be signed ‘soon’ – but will not be a long-term contract.
Hamilton is enjoying a winter break in the United States, where he is hiking a mountain every morning amid the negotiations.
Last week, 72-year-old Jordan told SunSport that he believes the driver wants a larger share of the television and sponsorship money he helps bring into the team.
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He explained: “Lewis is saying, ‘Look guys, this is my salary, is this what I am being paid as a driver and for various other things that go along with the interviews and other aspects?
“‘But am I being compensated for bringing in sponsors? Am I being compensated for the arrival of Ineos?
“‘Am I being compensated for the increased television income you are getting as the constructors’ champion in the form of TV money?'”

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LEWIS HAMILTON will sign his new Mercedes contract ‘soon’, Toto Wolff has confirmed.
The constructors champions are the last Formula One team able to formally confirm their line-up for the 2021 season.

Lewis Hamilton is set to stay at Mercedes with team boss Toto WolffCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Negotiations are thought to have been thrown off by Wolff contracting coronavirus earlier this month with the team boss speaking of ‘curveballs’ delaying an agreement.
But, in conversation with German outlet RTL, the 49-year-old insisted that the deal will be signed ‘soon’.
The timing of the agreement will enable Hamilton to be in the car for the start of the new season and March’s testing in Bahrain.
Wolff stated his belief that the parties must come to a ‘sensible agreement’.

And he added that Mercedes and Hamilton are ‘not far’ from settling on a package.
The seven-time world champion is thought to be holding out for a £40million salary plus entitlements to TV and sponsorship earnings he brings to the team.

Initial reports suggested a three-year deal would be on the table.

But Wolff has asserted that that is not the case, given the upcoming rule overhaul for the 2022 season and F1’s introduction of a budget cap.
During talks, Hamilton has jetted off to the United States and recently told fans of his morning hikes across snowy mountains.
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Despite the lengthy delay in the Brit putting pen to paper, Wolff is adamant that the duo have maintained their strong working relationship.
The Austrian added: “Our relationship is not only professional, but also a friendship.
“Lewis is incredibly important, not only for our team, but also for the Mercedes brand.”

Lewis Hamilton hikes to the top of a mountain every morning to ‘set his goals’ More

LEWIS HAMILTON is maintaining his fitness ahead of the new Formula One season by hiking a mountain every day – while Mercedes contract talks remained deadlocked.
In an Instagram post from his wilderness hideout in the United States, the Brit revealed he is continuing to ‘set his goals’.

Lewis Hamilton is enjoying a winter of hiking in the United States

But he gave no mention of the £40million contract saga that continues to rumble on between himself and seven-time F1 constructors’ champions Mercedes.
Hamilton, 36, wrote: “Every morning I hike to the top of this mountain and I take some time to set my goals and intentions for the day.
“I’ve been training every day and at these altitudes, I find it’s the perfect place to push my mind and body to new heights to prep myself for the year and season ahead.
“Today, I’m sending you all positivity and light. I know these uncertain times can be dark but I want to ask that you don’t lose sight of your goals.

“Let’s keep each other motivated and focused. I believe in you.”
Hamilton may want to agree a new contract by March 12, when the new F1 season begins with testing in Bahrain.

Merc will unveil their 2021 car before then with last season’s anti-racism black livery maintained following the world champ’s impressive year speaking out against inequality.
Team principal Toto Wolff spoke earlier this month of ‘curveballs’ delaying a conclusion to negotiations.

He said: “The lawyers are working hard. We don’t make life easy for them, of course, when we both argue over Zoom and keep sending curveballs to the lawyers.
“But [Hamilton is] in America now and I’m here [in Austria]. At some point we will finalise it.
“It’s how it is with negotiations. You always come from different corners, but that’s quite normal.”
Former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has told SunSport that Hamilton may want a bigger share of sponsorship deals and TV money that he helps to bring to the team.

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Jordan explained: “Lewis is saying, ‘Look guys, this is my salary, is this what I am being paid as a driver and for various other things that go along with the interviews and other aspects?
“‘But am I being compensated for bringing in sponsors? Am I being compensated for the arrival of Ineos?
“‘Am I being compensated for the increased television income you are getting as the constructors’ champion in the form of TV money?’.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reveals Lewis Hamilton arguing with Mercedes and curveballs thrown at lawyers in messy contract saga More

WHEN Lewis Hamilton woke up on the beautiful and secluded Caribbean Islands of Turks and Caicos this morning to celebrate his 36th birthday, it is probably fair to assume being unemployed did not register.
But the reality is that F1’s current world champion is out of work after his contract with Mercedes expired on December 31.

Lewis Hamilton is still without a contract to race in F1 next seasonCredit: Reuters

Hamilton has always maintained his desire was to stay with the Silver Arrows, and while he said he was in no rush to sort negotiations out over a new deal – expected to be worth £40million a year – the reality is now he is no longer being paid at all.
Initially he said the time was not right to be talking about a new, lucrative contract in the middle of a pandemic when people were losing their jobs.Fair enough.
He then adopted a different reason, saying he wanted to focus on winning the title before discussing his contract.
Again, that’s understandable.

Then, once he’d won title No7, he insisted there was still no rush and that ideally it would be signed before Christmas. Well, obviously that deadline has also passed.
Yes, it is all rather strange given that F1 contracts for in demand drivers are normally sorted early in the season.
Take a look at Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who signed his £8million one-year contract last August.
It might be a ‘no brainer’ as Merc’s Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff keeps saying, that Hamilton will re-sign with the team.

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On December 18, Wolff and Hamilton confirmed that the serious talks had not started yet, however, until it is done, there is always a concern he could go elsewhere or quit.
At this point there is no reason to suspect that Hamilton will walk away and refuse to sign, but there is a growing feeling that something is not quite right over what should have been a pretty standard renewal.
The last deal took a ten-hour discussion between Wolff and Hamilton in the Brit’s kitchen and concluded with a pizza, but this time it is rumbling on.
In the meantime, Mercedes will continue to develop their car for 2021 based on the presumption that Hamilton will be driving it, but the lack of a contract in place has started some wild rumours that Merc say are ‘pure fiction’.
Reports in Italy suggested there were three sticking points.
One, the salary of the contract. Two, that Hamilton wanted a share of the team’s prize money on top. And three, a freebie AMG One hypercar.

For the meantime, Mercedes say they are not worried about Hamilton’s lack of signature, after all, where else would he go – other than retire?
A spokesperson told SunSport: “There are no reasons to be concerned”, rightly pointing out that 2020 was vastly different from a normal F1 season.
So while Hamilton relaxes on  the beach with sand between his toes, at Merc’s Brackley HQ there is also no show of any panic.

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