Lewis Hamilton is likely to agree new terms with Mercedes after admitting he and Toto Wolff are due to sit down for talks over contract talks next Monday.
With the seven-time world champion’s contract set to expire in 2023, rumours lingered over a possible switch to Ferrari for 2024 before being dismissed by Hamilton in Monte Carlo.
“I haven’t signed anything yet,” Hamilton said to select members of the media, including Total-Motorsport.com.
“But we are thinking of meeting with Toto tomorrow [Monday], so hopefully, we can get something done.
“We’ve had so many meetings, and this is just another one of the meetings we are having. My performance is not affected by that, but it’s always something that’s at the back of my mind.
“Once that’s done, then you are able to then focus more and think about the future.”
Wolff then admitted final talks would be happening very soon to get a new deal agreed when asked by Sky Sports F1 about Hamilton’s future.
“I think we just need to get time to sit over coffee,” said Wolff. “That’s gonna take half an hour.”
Typical of Wolff and Hamilton’s relationship
Since Wolff and Hamilton arrived at Mercedes in 2013, the pair have maintained a friendly but serious relationship regarding contract matters.
In 2018, the pair agreed on a new contract over talks in Hamilton’s apartment in Monte Carlo, with discussions lasting over 10 hours as well as pizza being ordered.
For Hamilton’s latest deal agreed in the winter of 2021, talks were delayed after both men suffered from Covid-19.
But in February 2021, a deal was reached, and in July of the same year, Hamilton extended his deal with Mercedes until 2023.
Pleased but coy about Spain result
On track, Hamilton was able to reap the fruits of Mercedes’ upgrade package in Barcelona, finishing second albeit over 20 seconds behind run-away race winner and old adversary Max Verstappen.
It marks a turnaround in fortunes after a tricky start to 2023 which saw Mercedes fall behind Aston Martin in the constructors’ championship, causing some to speculate as to whether Hamilton would switch teams.
“This [is a] special [podium] given the journey we’ve been on together to close the gap,” said Hamilton. “This is an amazing day for us, [the] car felt great today.
“I just couldn’t match the times that Max was doing. Nonetheless, for George to come from 12th to third is just remarkable. So really awesome result for us as a team.
“I think we will be strong in the next races. There’ll be times when the Aston or the Ferrari is ahead. But our race pace continues to be a strength of ours.
“We’ve just got to try and lift the whole overall performance of the car a little bit more to try and close the gap.”
