Lewis Hamilton contract: Rumoured destination of Mercedes announcement revealed

Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft believes the future of Lewis Hamilton “will get done” with Mercedes, and could be announced at the British Grand Prix in July.

Hamilton’s future has been one of the big off-track topics of the season so far, with his current Mercedes deal set to expire at the end of 2023 and, after he and team boss Toto Wolff said last year they would discuss fresh terms over winter, a new deal is still yet to be signed by the seven-time World Champion.

Hamilton has continued to reaffirm his commitment to Mercedes on multiple occasions throughout the year so far, but admitted recently that the amount of facets involved in his deal make it “complicated” to agree in full, with it going beyond a “simple driving contract”.

Croft believes that the delay in announcing Hamilton’s future won’t be financially related, but rather about the amount of other non-driving elements of the deal that will need agreeing – and he believes Silverstone could be the “logical” place for the team to announce he is staying beyond the end of 2023.

“I think when you get to Lewis’ time of life, Lewis wants to stay with Mercedes and Mercedes want to stay with him,” Croft said onSky Sports News.

“And it will get done, but it won’t be about money. It will be about support for the Hamilton Commission, support with various things that Lewis wants to do, tie ups for the future, maybe an ambassadorial role.

“将会有很多不同的事情需要sorting out, but it will get done. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s announced at Silverstone.”

PlanetF1.com建议

‘Crucial’ Ferrari upgrade ‘fast-tracked’ with debut run just days away – report

Mercedes cost cap breach suspicions addressed with more significant W14 upgrades imminent

With Mercedes’ next big batch of upgrades to the W14 also pencilled in for Hamilton and team-mate George Russell’s home race, the Sky F1 commentator believes they will offer the seven-time World Champion the opportunity to fight Max Verstappen on a closer basis in that race.

“Lewis Hamilton proved in Canada, that [there are] horses for courses and there is no better course for Lewis Hamilton than Silverstone,” Croft said.

“He was back in the ballpark [in Canada], Mercedes have got massive upgrades coming for Silverstone. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him run Max really, really close.

“He rides a wave of euphoria throughout that weekend in the sunshine at Silverstone, it wouldn’t surprise me, but do you know what? While everyone else is improving, so are Red Bull, and that’s the problem.”