Mercedes intent on giving Hamilton new contract, profitable automotive

Mercedes is set to present an energized Lewis Hamilton each a profitable automotive and a contract extension this season.
Toto Wolff simply doesn’t have a timeline for both.

Mercedes on Wednesday revealed it has returned to an all-black shade scheme for this Formula One season and group principal Wolff was assured the automotive has improved from final 12 months. Wolff was cautious on when the automotive may truly be able to profitable, however stated the continued improvement wouldn’t be a deterrent in negotiations with Hamilton.

Mercedes final 12 months had its run of eight consecutive world titles snapped and seven-time champion Hamilton went winless for the primary time in his profession. George Russell scored Mercedes’ solely victory.

Dream Team. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/b5isiGeuVJ

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 15, 2023

The struggles gained’t be a deterrent in Hamilton’s contract negotiations, Wolff stated.

“I don’t think it plays into Lewis’ mind any doubts that we will perform. We will. Eventually,” stated Wolff, who made clear repeatedly,

“we will be competitive. We don’t know when.” Last 12 months was tough for Hamilton because the Mercedes design badly missed the mark. It was each uncompetitive and bodily tough to drive, and it developed a bouncing phenomenon dubbed “porpoising” that left each Hamilton and Russell bruised and battered after each drive.

Even so, Hamilton stated late final season he wished a long-term contract extension. Hamilton, who turned 38 final month, reiterated his need to proceed driving at Wednesday’s automotive reveal.

“I continue to love racing and that is never going to change,” Hamilton stated. “It is part of my DNA and I always believe I can get better. I am planning to stay a little bit longer.” Wolff stated there was one dialog with Hamilton a few new contract however that he had neither a timeline nor an inclination to hurry the method. He stated neither wage nor age have been of concern to Mercedes, and Wolff likened Hamilton to NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who final month retired at age 45.

“I think the age 38 plays no role for this next contract. If you look at how well top athletes in the world push boundaries, and I am thinking about Tom Brady … The age plays no role,” Wolff stated. “How (Lewis) seems to me is in nice type, very optimistic. Motivated. Energized. Maybe the perfect to date I’ve seen.

“He knows what he has with the team. We won eight constructors’ titles in a row … and we got it wrong last year.” The black shade scheme was launched by Mercedes in 2020 to advertise range and inclusion in line with Hamilton’s personal vocal push to extend the illustration of minorities in motorsports. Mercedes returned to its conventional silver after two years, however the change again to black is designed to chop weight from the automotive.

“We were overweight last year,” Wolff stated. “This year we have tried to figure out where we can squeeze out every single gram.” Despite the poor efficiency of final 12 months’s automotive, Wolff stated he plans to show the Mercedes within the foyer of the Brackley headquarters as a motivating software.

“It is a symbol of boldness for me, and courage. We took a radical design direction last year, and we dared, and we failed,” Wolff stated.

“So for me, that reveals numerous the mindset of the group, how it is very important address success and failure on the identical time.

“And I wouldn’t want us to go in any shape or form conservative in the future. I want us to take calculated risks and be bold.”