Lewis Hamilton expects new Mercedes contract by summer break

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton made his intentions known this time around about a new Mercedes contract for the 2022 Formula 1 (F1) season, after his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. Mercedes had announced a new one-year deal for the Brit in February 2021 just ahead of the season’s commencement, after postponing talks that were supposed to be held in 2020. Hamilton has already made it clear that 2021 was not going to be his last season in F1, and that he intends to be on the grid in 2022 with Mercedes.

“We never want to be in the position that we were in January, in February,” Hamilton said.

“It ruined my whole winter and I’m sure it wasn’t helpful for Toto’s (Wolff), in terms of being out to be off and relaxed, so it felt like we didn’t really have much of a break. I think we have to be sensible. Naturally, we don’t have to rush anything but I think we have to be sensible and start conversations. They’re very complex. It’s never a super simple procedure and so hopefully soon we can start, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the actual job,” he added.

SPANISH GRAND PRIX

Hamilton emerged victorious in the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, as he recorded a third first-place finish in four races. It is also his best-ever start to an F1 season as he looks to write his name in the history books with a record-breaking eighth world championship victory. Despite there being 19 more races to go, Hamilton’s performances suggest that F1 will see a new world record.

Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas will also be out of contract in 2022, thus leaving two open seats for Mercedes chief Toto Wolff to ponder upon. Wolff, however, said that it was too early to discuss next season’s lineup. He has turned down a mid-season switch for Bottas already.

Speaking about the contract, Hamilton also said that he would prefer to have some semblance of a contract in place before the break so that they could have a clear picture of the future.

He is one of the oldest drivers on the grid this season, and at 36, Hamilton said that he was becoming more conscious of his training regime and body.

“I’ve been training myself for a long time now but constantly growing and learning how to look after, naturally, the vessel that I’m given and I’m feeling great,” he concluded.