With roughly seven weeks to go until the 2021 F1 season gets underway in Bahrain, Sir Lewis Hamilton is still technically a free agent as he is yet to ink a new deal with the Mercedes F1 Team.
Last month, it was reported that numerous stumbling blocks, including the Brit’s demands for a pay rise and his insistence on signing a multi-year deal, were holding up the negotiations.
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And now, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who assumed the position at the start of 2021, has said he believes it’s unlikely that money is the only thing holding up the negotiations.
“I’m not in Lewis’ head and not even in Toto’s position,” Domenicali said.
“But he has to take an important decision for his life. I really hope we can have this announcement soon because what he is going to fight for this year is something that, from the sporting perspective, is incredible.
“I can imagine the pressure and the dynamic of how he wants to reach this new record [winning eight World Championships] because that would be an incredible story to tell.
“I think they are discussing a lot of points. I don’t think that is only a point related to his salary or whatever you call it.
“I think it’s really more related to what they have in mind to share together in the future. I think that’s the reason why,” he added.
Continuing, Domenicali suggested that Mercedes and Hamilton have potentially already reached an agreement but are waiting to put pen to paper and announce the new deal.
“But maybe they are not in a rush because they have already decided it’s all okay. We never know.
“For me, it would be really good to see, as soon as we have the announcement, Lewis with the energy that he has been always giving to F1. And I’m sure that will be [the case],” he added.
The former Scuderia Ferrari team principal went on to describe the seven-time World Champion as an “incredible driver” and an “incredible man.”
“And he’s given to Formula 1 a different dimension that is over the sport, I would say.
“Therefore, as soon as we know what will be his future, I think it would be great to see him fighting for something that nobody would have thought possible to achieve after Michael [Schumacher] leaving,” Domenicali concluded.
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