Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been together since 2013, and together they have won a record-breaking seven Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Hamilton is the most successful driver in Formula One history, and Mercedes is the most successful team. The partnership has been incredibly successful, and it is one of the most dominant in the history of the sport.
But since the RedBull has taken the top spot in the sport post, the controversial Abu Dhabi title decider, the German team and its star driver have failed to make a comeback. Due to this, there have been lingering rumors about Lewis Hamilton retiring but nothing concrete has come out yet. Lewis contract is ending this year and reports suggest that the renewal is being delayed by the driver
Hamilton’s contract talks drag on as current deal expires
Last year, Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff was determined to ensure that Hamilton’s future with the team was solidified before the eleventh hour. But 12 races into this current season, still no official confirmation has been made regarding the Briton’s renewal, despite several statements indicating that an agreement was imminent.
He’s already exceeded his own expectations on how long he’d stay in F1 having previously stated he didn’t want to be racing into his 40s. His new contract is set to do just that with Hamilton soon looking at life after F1.
But F1 experts belive that the delay is something trivial and that the contract extension is assured. But Ex F1 driver David Coulthard has a theory on the delay; he thinks the delays are due to sponsorship deals signed. He according to motorsportweek, said “Mercedes will want a certain amount of time from Lewis for their partners,”
Mercedes will have sold sponsorship on obtaining access to their drivers. Some businesses will have signed up with the Silver Arrows because Lewis is there, rather than George Russell.
What Lewis will be signing up for goes way beyond him driving at a grand prix. It is about what rights he retains in terms of his image, and what rights he sells to the team.
He concluded by saying that he doesn’t think there is any realistic chance that Lewis will leave Mercedes unless there is a major fallout. And he can’t see that happening.
How many F1 championships does Lewis Hamilton have?
Lewis Hamilton began karting at the age of eight, and he quickly rose through the ranks of karting. In 2007, he made his Formula One debut with the McLaren-Mercedes team. Hamilton became the first Black driver to compete in Formula One, and he immediately made his mark on the sport. He won the Drivers’ Championship in his debut season, becoming the youngest champion in Formula One history.
Since then Hamilton has gone on to win the Drivers’ Championship six more times, in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. He is also a three-time Constructors’ Champion, with McLaren in 2008 and Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019. tying the record set by the legendary Michael Schumacher of 7 world driver championships.
He, however, hasn’t been able to add too much to those numbers the past two seasons with Red Bull coming to the fore while Mercedes have struggled in the new ground-effect aerodynamic era.
What do you think about a possible Lewis Hamilton retirement? Do you think he can win his long-awaited eighth title any time soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below.
