Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes, keeping him with the team until the end of the 2025 season.
The deal is reportedly worth £50 million per year, making Hamilton the highest-paid driver in Formula 1 history.
Hamilton’s decision to stay with Mercedes is a major coup for the team, as he is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers of all time.
He has won 103 races with Mercedes, more than any other driver in the team’s history. He also has seven world championships, tying him with Michael Schumacher for the most in F1 history.
Hamilton’s new contract has a number of big consequences for F1. First, it blocks one of the most coveted seats on the grid for at least two more seasons. This could make it more difficult for other drivers to find a competitive seat, and could also lead to increased competition for the remaining seats.
Second, Hamilton’s contract extension gives Mercedes a major advantage in the title race. The team has won the constructors’ championship for the past eight seasons, and with Hamilton still at the helm, they will be the favourites to win again in 2023 and beyond.
Third, Hamilton’s decision to stay in Formula One is a boost for the sport as a whole. He is one of the most popular drivers in the world, and his continued presence will help to attract new fans and sponsors.
Hamilton has said that he is “excited to continue this journey with Mercedes” and that he is “committed to winning more championships.”
He is also looking forward to the new regulations that will be introduced in 2023, which he believes will make the racing more competitive.
Hamilton’s new contract is a major win for Mercedes and for Formula One. It ensures that one of the greatest drivers of all time will be on the grid for at least two more seasons, and it gives the team a major advantage in the title race.
It is also a boost for the sport as a whole, as Hamilton’s continued presence will help to attract new fans and sponsors.
In addition to the consequences mentioned above, Hamilton’s new contract could also have a number of other implications for F1.
For example, it could lead to a salary cap being introduced in the sport, as teams will be reluctant to pay such high salaries to multiple drivers.
It could also lead to more drivers switching teams, as they seek to find a seat alongside Hamilton.