Lewis Hamilton ‘s contract with Mercedes enters its “final phase” next season. The 37-year-old driver is linked to the team until December of next season, but Toto Wolff has advanced several details regarding the possible renewal of the Briton to continue in Formula 1.
Before the summer break, Wolff was already talking about how he envisioned Hamilton easily reaching the 400 races , and that talk of the driver’s stay with the team encompassed “five to ten” years.
During the Singapore GP, the Mercedes boss spoke to David Coulthard – an interview that has been published by Channel 4 on YouTube – where he explains that it is only a matter of time before Hamilton signs his renewal.
“In the end, Lewis and I have grown together. We are totally transparent with each other and we also talk about the future. I think it’s very easy: Lewis will be the first to say ‘I can’t do this anymore because I think I don’t have the reflexes anymore,’ I don’t have fun anymore or there is a new generation that is very strong,'” Wolff said.
“So I have no doubt that we will always openly discuss what the future holds, regardless of what we agree to in the contract extension, which is something that is going to happen.”
In July 2021, Hamilton renewed his contract with Mercedes for the last time, then keeping the partnership for two years. Wolff suggests the Briton will continue to drive for Mercedes in 2024 , aged 39 and approaching an age when most drivers no longer race in F1 .
“The advantage is that we talk a lot. We sat down last week and he said, ‘Look, I think I still have five years left, how do you see it?'”
The Austrian still thinks that a 40-year-old driver is just as valid as a 30-year-old . “Look at Fernando [Alonso] at 41: he’s still there. Is he the same Fernando as when he was 25? I don’t know, but he’s still very competitive,” explains Wolff.
“Look at Tom Brady, who I really admire for his discipline and his skills. He’s 43 or 44 years old, but he’s still on the field. So Lewis, the way he lives his life, the way he’s single-mindedly in Formula 1 – everything else is just a hobby for him – I think he can go on for a long time.”
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