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.
