Lewis Hamilton is believed to have been denied £30 million by reigning World Champion Max Verstappen, for having not won the World Championship in 2022 and likely in 2023.
The seven-time World Champion is currently coming to the end of yet another contract, with the driver and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sorting his extension.
Hamilton’s deal concludes at the end of 2023, and reports state that his new contract will see the 38-year-old stay at Mercedes for another two seasons.
Given that Mercedes are no longer the most dominant team though, his new deal is set to feature some key differences.
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To start with, it’s rumoured that Hamilton has asked for his additional yearly bonus for winning the championship to become guaranteed income, having not claimed the title in 2022 and is highly unlikely to do so this season.
Hamilton reportedly earns an additional £15 million for winning the title, something he didn’t receive in 2022 and presumably won’t in 2023.
It means Hamilton will have lost £30 million due to Verstappen’s dominance, with the Dutchman having won 25 of the last 34 races.
Hamilton is yet to win a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where the 103-time race winner and Verstappen infamously collided multiple times.
Should Mercedes offer him a competitive package in 2024, then perhaps Hamilton will battle Verstappen once again.
How long it’ll be until a new deal is confirmed is unknown; however, both Hamilton and Wolff have informed the media several times that a new contract will be sorted.
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Some have pondered if the delay is due to an ambassadorial role being discussed for the British driver, Wolff has denied this, though.
“We’re not talking about an ambassadorial role post his retirement nor is that part of the contract negotiations,” Wolff said, as reported by the Express.
“He has many years to go as a driver within the team and therefore it is only about cleaning things up in the contract. I know it looks a little bit: ‘Why is this not done and dusted?’ but it is simply down to trivial things that just need to be cleaned up in the contract.”