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      F1 star Lewis Hamilton wakes up on his birthday unemployed as new £40m-a-year Mercedes-deal talks rumble on

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      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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      F1 star Lewis Hamilton wakes up on birthday unemployed as new £40m-a-year Mercedes deal rumbles on amid wild rumours

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      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.

      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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      F1 team Mercedes set to announce backing by Britain’s fifth richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe worth whopping £13 BILLION

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’s Mercedes team are expected to announce the backing of the UK’s fifth-richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
      The chemicals billionaire is understood to be confirmed as part of a three-way ownership set-up along with Mercedes and their current Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff.

      Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to boost Mercedes with this backing Credit: Reuters

      The move is a boost to the F1 world champions, who currently have Ratcliffe’s INEOS firm as one of their partners.
      The announcement is with Ola Källenius, who is Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG, and Wolff.
      Ratcliffe, estimated to be worth over £13billion, will add the F1 team to his company’s sports portfolio. 
      His acquisitions also include French football giants, Nice, cycling team Ineos Grenadiers and the British entrant to the Americas Cup.

      The move will also see Wolff cement his place in the team as co-owner after speculation about his future.
      However, the Brackley-based group are yet to reveal whether he will remain as Head of Motorsport after he initially said he was reconsidering his role in the team.
      Wolff, who has guided the team to seven straight titles, has previously admitted he has found his successor.
      His team have also been boosted by news that Lewis Hamilton is due to sign a new £40million contract with Mercedes in the coming days. 

      Lewis Hamilton is expected to sign new deal with Mercedes Credit: AP:Associated Press

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      The F1 giants have taken to social media in anticipation of tying the seven-times world title-winning Brit down to a new deal. 
      And Hamilton looks set to attempt to win a record-breaking EIGHTH world title in 2021 
      His bid will commence on March 21 at the start of what is expected in the longest season in F1 history.

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      Watch Lewis Hamilton celebrate historic F1 season by performing DOUGHNUTS as he turns attention to new Mercedes deal

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      LEWIS HAMILTON will turn his attention to getting his new Mercedes deal done now the F1 season is over.
      The world champ finished third in the Abu Dhabi GP after Max Verstappen claimed an excellent victory for Red Bull.

      Lewis Hamilton celebrated his F1 return by performing doughnutsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Brit finished third in Abu Dhabi but had already scooped the Driver’s ChampionshipCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      That’s a wrap for the season! 💨🏁Gotta say a massive thanks to my team. It’s been one hell of a year with you guys and I’m so grateful for everything we’ve accomplished together. Let’s keep making #HIS7ORY together🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/KTK7YBZQOT
      — Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 13, 2020

      Hamilton pulled doughnuts in his F1 car to celebrate the end of the year, but is still suffering from the effects after testing positive for Covid-19.
      Still coughing during a post-race interview, he said he was “grateful to be alive”.
      He said: “I don’t think I’ve ever been so blown. My body isn’t feeling great but look on the bright side, I made it through.
      “I didn’t think any time last week that I would be here, so, I am just truly grateful for my health and to be alive.

      “I am looking forward to recovering over the next period of time we have and being back into training and getting my body back to where I know it should be.
      “You can’t win them all, so, I think considering the past couple of weeks that I’ve had, I am really, generally, happy with the weekend.
      “It’s obviously not 100 per cent, it’s not as good as I’d perhaps have liked but congratulations to Max. That was a really hard race for me.
      “All year physically I have been fine, but today I definitely wasn’t so I am just glad it is over.”

      I didn’t think any time last week that I would be here, so, I am just truly grateful for my health and to be alive
      Lewis Hamilton

      Before Hamilton can put his feet up, he will hold discussion with Merc boss Toto Wolff over new terms.
      He is understood to have agreed wages of up to £40million for at least two years while the two are now haggling over the fine print, including media and sponsorship requirements.
      When quizzed as to when he can expect to sign the deal, Hamilton added: “Hopefully over the next couple of weeks.
      “We would love to get it done before Christmas. The plan is to be here at Mercedes next year and I want to be here.
      “Us as a team have more to achieve both in and out of the sport, so I hope we can begin talks again this week and get it tied up before Christmas.”
      Take nothing away from Verstappen’s win, but this was a dreary GP as the Yas Marina circuit served up another dullard after some excellent races in this short season.
      A total of 17 GPs in 23 weekends has been a punishing schedule for those on the road, who won’t want telling it is just 95 days until practice in Melbourne for the 2021 season opener.

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      Verstappen is hoping that this, his second win of 2020, bodes well for his chances of wrestling the title out of Hamilton’s hands next season.
      He said: “It is a great way to finish the season and a big boost for everyone in the team.
      “I just hope that we learn from previous years that we have to be stronger at the beginning of the season to be able to give the Mercedes drivers a little bit of a harder time.”

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      George Russell told to forget about driving for Mercedes next year with Valtteri Bottas keeping seat alongside Hamilton

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      GEORGE RUSSELL has been told to forget about driving for Mercedes next season as Valtteri Bottas will be keeping his seat. The 22-year-old was impressive when he filled in for Covid-hit Lewis Hamilton last weekend and was only denied a debut win for the team after a bungled pitstop. After the race, the Brit said […] More

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      Lewis Hamilton on track for more F1 records with Bahrain pole as Max Verstappen admits he cannot be stopped

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S rivals have no idea how to stop him from setting more Formula One records.
      Hamilton, who has already sewn up a joint-record seventh world title, is on course to set a new benchmark for wins in a season.

      Lewis Hamilton claimed his tenth pole of the season at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: EPA

      Hamilton was unstoppable as he took pole for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix and is now poised to win this season’s remaining three races.
      If he can do that, it would take his tally to 13 victories in 17 GPs.
      That would not only mean he levels Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher’s record for the most wins in a year, but it would give him a win percentage of 76.47 per cent — beating Alberto Ascari’s record from 1952.
      No wonder then that his nearest competitors are left feeling that the only way they can stop him winning is by locking him up in a cupboard.

      Champ Hamilton, 35, said: “I came today and I was like, let’s just have fun and enjoy it.
      “That’s the most important thing, to enjoy what you’re doing.
      “And with the pressure a little bit off, it’s a bit of a release to go and drive like I just did.
      “I have not thought that I could finish the season on 100 pole positions for my career.

      Hamilton is on course to set a new benchmark for wins in a seasonCredit: EPA
      “It has already been such an incredible year so anything from now is just an added bonus.
      “It is close between the three of us and we have some tricky races ahead of us and it is not something I am thinking about.
      “But we will get there eventually and I am pushing as hard as I can for sure.”
      Hamilton’s boss at Mercedes, Toto Wolff, praised his driver’s relentless attitude to dominate the sport, despite picking up the title in the last race.
      And Wolff also admitted for the first time that he HAS started talks with Hamilton about extending his stay with the team, with a new deal expected to be worth £40million a season.
      He added: “It is unbelievable. Lewis won the championship and is still so motivated to show these kinds of performances.
      “On the contract, we are talking, which is good. Just little initial steps but we know we have to do something before the end of the year.”
      Hamilton starts ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

      Seven-time world champion Hamilton claimed pole with a time of 1:27.264
      And Bottas was left scratching his head as to how he can better the Brit.
      He groaned: “I am trying my best — he has got the title this year.
      “I am here to win and I know that starting from second on the grid you have all the opportunities. But you need a perfect race and, for sure, we will push hard and try.
      “And I am pretty sure that is what Max is thinking as well.”
      Verstappen, who starts in third in his Red Bull, says that he cannot take the fight to Hamilton because the Brit has a superior car.

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      He said: “As Lewis has shown, he is one of the best drivers in F1 but at the moment I don’t have equal chances.
      “I am pushing as hard as I can with the material I have got and sometimes it is closer and sometimes it is further away.
      “Today it was less competitive.”

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      Bahrain GP: World champion Lewis Hamilton continues 2020 dominance by storming to pole in Middle East

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      LEWIS HAMILTON continued his stranglehold on the Formula One season after taking pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix. It was Hamilton’s tenth pole of the season and he will now go in search of his 11th win of the campaign – despite having already wrapped up the title. Hamilton’s teammate, Valtteri Bottas, will line […] More

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      Lewis Hamilton closes door on Ferrari switch because Mercedes F1 star does not believe ‘values’ are aligned

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      LEWIS HAMILTON will NOT drive for Ferrari in Formula One due to a clash of ‘values’.
      A record-equalling seven world titles have been won by the Brit, 35, in a career with motor racing giants McLaren and Mercedes.

      Lewis Hamilton has insisted he does not want a move to FerrariCredit: Reuters

      Many fans of the Prancing Horse would love to see Hamilton wear red before he retires from F1.
      But he is not invigorated about a potential move – despite being a ‘Ferrari fan’.
      Hamilton told GQ: “That’s not going to happen. The Ferrari thing is not going to happen… I think.
      “I’ve always been positive about Ferrari. I watched Michael [Schumacher] win there. I’ve always been a Ferrari fan.

      “I remember one of the first cars I ever bought was a Ferrari. And I think it’s a hugely iconic team and brand, particularly.
      “I think the team has, in my period of time… There have been things I’ve seen that I don’t necessarily feel mirror my values and my approach.

      “However, it is a team that every driver, I think, has dreamed of what it would be like to sit in the red cockpit.
      “No disrespect to them, but when I stop I want to work with Mercedes in helping them be even better in the outside world.

      “You know, they’ll always have beautiful cars, but how can we be a more diverse industry?”
      Hamilton, still yet to agree a new Mercedes contract for next year, has become an even greater advocate for racial diversity in motor racing in 2020.
      Regularly donning the Black Lives Matter logo around the paddock, he successfully persuaded Mercedes to adopt a black livery for the current campaign.
      After capturing his seventh world crown, he sent a heartfelt message to any youngsters watching who hoped to match his inexorable rise.
      He declared: “That’s for all the kids out there that dream the impossible. You can do it too, man. I believe in you.”
      There have been calls for Hamilton to receive a knighthood in honour of his stunning career – a prospect the champ is remaining modest about.

      Hamilton has increased his demands for racial diversity in motor racingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Mercedes man has gone toe-to-toe with Ferrari for his entire career on the trackCredit: Getty – Pool
      He added: “My granddad served in the Second World War – I’ve got all his medals – and I was so proud to see Captain Sir Tom get his knighthood this year.
      “I think the unsung heroes are the ones that deserve these things.
      “If I’m one day honoured, I don’t think it’s something I’d say no to, but it’s not an issue for me right now.”

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