Talks over Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes future are set to be placed on maintain – regardless of his present £40m-a-year deal expiring on the finish of this season – as they try and resolve depressing begin to new season
- Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expires on the finish of the season
- Either side are eager to increase however poor kind may even see Hamilton delay signing
- Mercedes seemed effectively off the tempo within the opening Grand Prix in 2023 in Bahrain
Lewis Hamilton‘s System One future is ready to be placed on maintain as Mercedes try and resolve their depressing begin to the brand new season.
Hamilton finished fifth at the opening round in Bahrain on Sunday – 51 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen – with team-mate George Russell seventh.
The seven-time world champion’s contract expires on the finish of the season, and hypothesis is rife that he might stall on a brand new deal if Mercedes fail to reverse their stoop.
Requested if the Silver Arrows will put a Plan B in place if Hamilton doesn’t decide to an extension, workforce principal Toto Wolff mentioned: ‘There is no such thing as a level speaking concerning the driver scenario for 2024.
‘That’s far too early. Now we have to all push in the identical course, the drivers, engineers and administration, somewhat the dropping by the wayside. Now we have by no means carried out that and we won’t do this now.’
Lewis Hamilton could look to place contract talks with Mercedes on maintain amid a depressing begin
It has been a worrying starting to 2023 with Hamilton 51 seconds off winner Max Verstappen
Talking within the build-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton, 38, mentioned solely a disaster would forestall him from extending his stick with Mercedes.
However his feedback got here earlier than he hit the observe and the extent of his workforce’s troubles had been uncovered.
Wolff introduced on the eve of Sunday’s race that Mercedes will scrap this season’s machine, and concentrate on a revolutionary new design in a bid to return to successful methods – successfully ruling out a championship problem earlier than a wheel had turned in anger.
Not solely have Mercedes slipped additional behind Pink Bull, who took first and second on Sunday, however they’ve been usurped by Aston Martin, too, with the British workforce taking spectacular strides over the winter.
Wolff will maintain crunch talks together with his Mercedes employees this week to find out how the grid’s as soon as dominant workforce can revive former glories.
Talking instantly after the chequered flag, Hamilton mentioned: ‘I do know we aren’t the place we need to be, however let’s maintain pushing.
‘Now we have bought some severe work to do to shut the hole however I consider in you all so let’s maintain going.’
And Wolff added: ‘You heard Lewis on the radio. He’s an integral a part of the workforce, choosing the workforce up, and we’re all sticking collectively.
Previous to Bahrain, Hamilton mentioned solely a disaster would cease him from staying with Mercedes
‘I do not suppose that is going to vary simply because we had one other begin that was actually unhealthy.
‘We received eight constructor championships, and we received six driver championships with him, and that relationship holds.
‘It will be a lot too simple to lose a driver, after which simply throw within the white towel. We’re not doing that.
‘Quite the opposite, we simply want to essentially dig deeper than we have ever carried out earlier than, and supply each drivers with a automotive that they are truly in a position to combat with.’
