Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton’s new contract is yet to be announced because the duo are “cleaning things up” in the new deal.
Hamilton’s current deal with the Silver Arrows expires at the end of this season, with him reportedly set to sign a new two-year deal with the Brackley-based team.
Some suggested that the delay in Hamilton’s deal being announced was because he was asking for an ambassadorial position within the team; however, Wolff revealed at the Belgian Grand Prix that this isn’t the case.
The Austrian revealed that only a few “trivial things” need to be done before an announcement can be made, suggesting that it could be confirmed shortly.
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“No, we’re not talking about an ambassadorial role post his retirement, nor is that part of the contract negotiations,” Wolff said.
“I think he has many years to go as a driver within this team and, therefore, it’s only about cleaning things up in the contract.
“I know it looks a little bit like ‘Why is this not being done and dusted?’ But it’s simply down to trivial things that just need to be cleaned up in contracts and we need the time.”
Wolff is seemingly adamant that the new deal for Hamilton will get across the line, with the Austrian being “very confident”.
“I am still very confident it will get done. We want to do it super, and to every detail,” Wolff said at the Austrian Grand Prix.
“This is not a money discussion. It is about the future, what is it that we want to do right, and then optimise.”
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Hamilton has also recently admitted that he’s “close” to agreeing to a new deal with the Silver Arrows, with him continuing to have “faith in this team”.
“Let’s see, let’s see. I don’t have the pen at the moment but we’re close. I have 100 per cent faith in this team and we are going to get there,” Hamilton shared at the British Grand Prix.
“We have a lot to do, not only on the track but off the track, we’re doing a lot of work with really trying to improve the pipeline, making the team and the sport more diverse.”