Lewis Hamilton is now officially a free agent, with his most recent Mercedes contract expiring at the end of 2020 and the seven-time F1 World Champion yet to agree a new deal with the Silver Arrows.
Hamilton and Mercedes have previously insisted that there is no reason for them not to continue their journey together, but the Italian edition of Motorsport.com has now reported that the Brit’s “attitude” and salary demands are holding up negotiations.
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Specifically, the publication claims that Daimler, Mercedes’ parent company which now owns just a third of the Silver Arrows, tabled a €40 million a year contract with a ten percent bonus should Lewis Hamilton win the 2021 Drivers’ Championship.
However, the seven-time World Champion reportedly turned down this offer and is demanding a pay rise despite many F1 drivers having to take a pay cut into 2021 due to the COVID-19’s pandemic adverse financial implications on the sport and the global automotive industry.
“Lewis’ attitude does not appeal to the Daimler board of directors who gave [Toto] Wolff full mandate to close the deal as soon as possible, but with a series of constraints that were dictated by the president of the German group, Ola Kallenius,” the article published on Motorsport.com claims.
“The Swede is struggling with major cuts. He has launched a tough restructuring plan and cannot accept [Hamilton’s demand] for a pay rise.”
Last month, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said he is confident that a new deal will be agreed “sooner or later” but suggested it could be a couple of months before a contract extension for Lewis Hamilton is finalised.
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