General
'Hamilton scored point at Mercedes, they admitted their mistake'
Lewis Hamiton and Mercedes will continue with each other for longer, that much seems clear. How many years the seven-time world champion will re-sign and what compensation will be in return is not yet known, but Damon Hill thinks Hamilton has once again proven to be of great value to his employer in 2023 and that he can therefore demand quite a lot.
At the start of the season, when winter tests showed that the W14 was not competitive, Hamilton expressed his disappointment at this by stating that Mercedes had not listened to him. In the weeks that followed, the 38-year-old Briton continued to pressure his team to change tack with the development of the W14.
Mercedes listens to Hamilton
That happened, as major updates were introduced in Monaco and Spain. Then, in Spain and Canada, there were immediate podium finishes, a sign that Mercedes is in a much better place than they were about three months ago. Hamilton, with all his experience, has played a big part in this, Hill argues. It also ensures that the 103-time Grand Prix winner is a bit stronger in contract negotiations.
"He knows that the team has got his back, they know what they’ve got with him and they will give him everything he possibly can," Hill said of Hamilton's future at Express Sport. "He’s scored a point a bit this year because he’s got them to admit they’ve made a mistake. They’ve changed direction and they’re now heading in what seems to be the right direction and he’s driving better now as well. It could be that he could have a car that he can contend for the championship with next year."
'Lewis considering mega contract'
Last week, a rumour circulated that Hamilton was aiming for a new five-year contract at the German formation. That commitment should be worth £250 million. So, per season, in that case, it would earn him more than £50 million.