Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are a long way apart in their stances over a new contract, it has been claimed.
Hamilton’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the Formula One season and discussions over a new contract have stalled. Mirror Sport understands that the seven-time champion wants to stay with the Silver Arrows but the details are proving difficult to iron out.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has made it clear that he also wants Hamilton to stay and has frequently hinted that an announcement will be made soon. But that has not happened and the Daily Mail says that there are ‘widely contrasting views’ about the next contract.
Hamilton’s current contract is worth £27.5million per year and also includes a £15m bonus for winning the title. The 38-year-old wants a new long-term deal which includes the bonus as guaranteed income, because with Mercedes lagging well behind rivals Red Bull, he has little chance of beating Max Verstappen.
However, Mercedes are reportedly only willing to offer Hamilton a one-year contract with the option for a second. He is already the second-highest paid driver, behind Verstappen, who pulls in £43m per year with Red Bull.
Meanwhile, another sticking point is Hamilton’s desire to be handed a 10-year Mercedes brand ambassador role worth £20m per year. Hamilton has been with Mercedes since leaving McLaren in 2013 and has become the face of the manufacturer, but they are unwilling to agree to his demands.
Speaking at the Canadian Grand Prix last weekend, Hamilton suggested he was not concerned by the deadlocked talks. “I’ve nothing more to say on the contract side,” he said in Montreal.
“If it’s next week or next month it really doesn’t bother me. I’ve seen Toto. We have talked several times. We’ve got a great relationship.”
Wolff gave a similar answer last week. He said: "When we're still talking, we get this question basically every race weekend. We've such a good relationship that we dread the moment we need to talk about money! So, it's going to happen soon."
Asked about a timeframe, he added: "Soon, I think we're talking more days than weeks. He's the most important personality in the sport. He's so multifaceted, not only the racing but also off-track. We need to keep in the sport for as long as possible.
"It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks. From a team's perspective, Lewis and Mercedes have gone back a long time. He has never raced for any other brand than Mercedes. We both joined the team in 2013 together, and from a professional relationship, we now have a friendship. It has been a wonderful time."
