2016 Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg is confused as to why it’s taking Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes so long to announce a new contract, with the German having “no idea where they are at”.
Hamilton is very much expected to remain at the Silver Arrows beyond 2023, with his current contract set to expire this season.
Both Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff have stressed that a new deal will be signed, with the latter having even revealed at the Hungarian Grand Prix that the new contract is “emotionally” completed.
“The status is we haven’t signed it (the contract) but emotionally we have done it,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1 after Hamilton topped free practice 3.
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Whilst the deal is supposedly done, no announcement is yet to be made.
The delay is very much leaving former Mercedes driver Rosberg perplexed, with him pondering what Wolff means by the deal being “emotionally done”.
“Can someone tell me what that means when a contract is emotionally done?” Rosberg said on Sky Sports F1, as reported by GPFans.com.
“I have no idea where they are at, or why Lewis is taking so much time.
“All of us hope that he will continue of course, and it really seems to be the case. Especially with the car progressing now, that’s going to help that contract process also.
“Once Lewis now feels the possibility ‘Hey I can do pole positions again, I can win races, yeah I want to continue doing this’.”
Following Wolff’s comment after FP3, Hamilton went on to claim a shock pole position at the Hungaroring, something which shocked the paddock.
Hamilton beat Verstappen to pole by three-thousandths of a second, in what was his 104th time topping qualifying.
The race wasn’t as successful for the British driver, who had to settle for fourth.
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Hamilton lost three places at the opening corner, before later dropping to fifth behind Sergio Perez.
He recovered fourth late in the race by overtaking Oscar Piastri, whilst he also came close to overtaking Perez for third.
Missing out on the podium certainly wasn’t ideal for Hamilton; however, he’ll certainly take some confidence from his pole position.