Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes driver confirms intention to sign new ‘multi-year’ contract with team

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that he plans to sign a new “multi-year” contract with Mercedes; the seven-time world champion’s current contract expires at the end of the 2023 season; watch the Mexico City GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend, with the race at 8pm on Sunday

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Lewis Hamilton says he hopes Mercedes can compete at the Mexico City GP this weekend

Lewis Hamilton has revealed he plans to sign a new “multi-year” contract with Mercedes that will see the seven-time world champion driver enter his forties.

The 37-year-old said earlier in his career that he was not expected to race to such an age, but after losing to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in two consecutive driver’s titles, insists Mercedes “has a championship that we need to get back”.

Hamilton’s interests outside of Formula 1 include social and racial activism, fashion, music, movies and more recently becoming a part owner of the NFL team, but he insists. decided that the sport was still his priority.

“Honestly, I don’t put a limit on it,” Hamilton said Thursday ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.

“I’m planning on doing a multi-year deal with my team.

Hamilton spoke to the media on Thursday ahead of the Mexico City GP

“I really, really don’t know what’s going to be in the next five years (withholding). I think we’re still trying to work it out. There’s a lot of great things going on, like I’ve just founded a company. this manufacturing company but I feel great in my mind and body.

“I want to continue, I think there’s a lot for us to achieve together so I want to stay here longer.”

Hamilton has considered leaving the sport after suffering painful – and controversial – rejection of his eighth world title in 2021, and has endured the most challenging campaign of his career in this year when Mercedes struggled, with Red Bull dominating.

Brit believes the challenges the group has faced over the past 12 months will make returning to the top much more gratifying.

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Sky Sports’ Craig Slater and Paul Di Resta discuss whether Lewis Hamilton can reclaim the Formula 1 world title amid the dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull

He says. “If we had a year like last year and we competed for the top all year, who knows where I would be?

“Every year, you have to ask yourself if you’re willing to give more than you did when you first started. Are you willing to put in all your time preparing, training and Teamwork and delivery?

“If there’s ever a moment where I get there and I’m just running, that’s when I don’t belong here, and don’t deserve to be here, and that’s when I should stop. I asked myself if I could do it and if I wanted to do it, and the answer was yes.

“We clearly have a championship that we need to get back, and I love that mission and challenge with my team.”

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The battle for P1 continues as Max Verstappen battles to take the lead from Lewis Hamilton at the United States Grand Prix

Hamilton, who has spoken openly about the challenges he has faced with his mental health in the past, said one of the highlights of Mercedes’ testing period was the fact that his male colleagues His is more open.

“Everybody who comes back here has spent a lot of their lives on the road, year after year, and this is a really, really challenging challenge for all of us in so many ways,” Hamilton said. way,

“But it’s been great to see the journey each of us has gone through, but also how we’ve come together and pulled each other out, closer together, more open.

“With a real room full of men most often, they expose themselves to more vulnerability, it’s been a really exciting process and I’m grateful to be a part of it.

“I can’t wait for the moment when we get back to success, when we finally get that win, when we get the championship – that will make all these difficult moments a reality. should be worth it.”