Despite expressing a desire to continue their partnership throughout the year, it took until the Italian Grand Prix last weekend for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes to finalize the details of his contract, extending his tenure as a seven-time World Champion into 2024.
The prolonged contract negotiation process raised questions about the reasons behind the delay, especially when both parties had indicated their willingness to continue working together.
One earlier summer rumor suggested that a potential hurdle was Hamilton’s pursuit of an ambassadorial role with the Mercedes brand once his F1 racing career concludes. However, Toto Wolff denied these claims, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the negotiations. During this period of uncertainty, rumors even circulated about Hamilton potentially switching seats with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, possibly as a strategic bargaining move to expedite the negotiations.
Toto Wolff addressed these contract negotiations during the Italian Grand Prix, indicating that they had clarity on the major terms by June or July. However, the process continued to drag on, largely due to issues related to marketing and not the significant contractual aspects.
Wolff humorously pointed out that lawyers handling the negotiations, known for their meticulousness, contributed to the delay. He jokingly suggested that sometimes these lawyers play a game of ping pong, leading to a slower pace in reaching an agreement.
In summary, while both Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were eager to continue their partnership, the contract’s finalization took longer than expected due to issues related to marketing and the meticulous nature of lawyers involved in the negotiations.
