Lewis Hamilton has offered McLaren new hope that they can sign their former world champion to a new contract by hailing the team as “incredible” and insisting he is looking forward to the future.
Hamilton’s initial downbeat response to his victory in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza led many paddock observers to assume he had already pledged his future to Mercedes, where the anticipated retirement of Michael Schumacher is expected to leave a prime vacancy at the end of the season.
Should the seven-time champion leave, Mercedes will be desperate to attract a proven winner as a replacement and some reports suggest they have offered Hamilton £100million for his signature on a five-year contract.
With McLaren understood to be unwilling to improve upon their £75m, five‑year deal with the British ace that expires at the end of this season, it was assumed that Mercedes had moved into pole position in contract negotiations.
But after Hamilton at last joined the elite company of drivers who have achieved the set of wins at Formula One’s four most historic circuits — Monza, Monaco, Spa and Silverstone — he dropped a significant hint that he will remain where he is.
“This is an incredible team,” said the 27-year-old. “I’ve got a great relationship with them, so I’m really looking forward to the future. The guys have delivered a great package.”
It is just possible that the penny has finally dropped and Hamilton is recognising that while Mercedes can offer more money in the form of a direct wage and greater freedom to exploit his image rights, it is McLaren who can offer him the more competitive car.
His 20th career win, achieved ahead of Sergio Perez, of Sauber, and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, has certainly breathed new life into the 2008 champion’s challenge for a second title.
Hamilton is now second in the title chase, just 37 points adrift of Alonso. “We’re in the fight, we have a good car and we can compete,” he said.
