Ferrari Awaits for Mercedes to Accept Lewis Hamilton’s Massive $319,000,000 Demand to Unlock a High-Priority Deal of Their Own

Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes contract renewal have been the talk of the F1 town for a few weeks. There has been a lot of speculation about the same. In an interview, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff confirmed that it is a matter of days before the contract is renewed. But the lesser-known part of the contract talks is its linkage with Ferrari’s future plans.

The 7-time champion has been at Mercedes since 2013. In this decade of partnership, apart from piling up world championships, Hamilton has developed an amazing bond as well. Though Hamilton does not have a signed contract with Mercedes yet, as his current deal expires this year. Besides, he is at an age when most athletes retire. The latest reports suggest that he plans to stay in the sport for a longer term. There were talks of him moving to Ferrari, but he has rubbished those claims.

While Hamilton’s deal expires this season, Charles Leclerc’s contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2024. As per rumored reports, Hamilton has asked Mercedes for a 5-year contract that will pay him $319 million (GBP 250 million).

As per formulapassion.it, If this deal with Mercedes works out for Hamilton, Charles Leclerc gets a guaranteed seat at Ferrari post-2024. So, Hamilton’s contract renewal should put the worries of Leclerc’s and Ferrari’s fans to rest.

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$319 million might be a considerable amount for Mercedes. Still, they know Lewis’s value as a driver much more than anyone else. So Toto Wolff may not mind splurging cash on the Briton again to retain him. Even Hamilton’s FP2 performance in Canada might be good proof of what is to come.

Lewis Hamilton Tops the Time Charts in FP2 in Canada

Lewis Hamilton might just have found his prime again as he topped the charts in FP2. And joining him in P2 is none other than his teammate, George Russell. Though it was just a practice session, Mercedes are proving that they are still competitive.

In the post-practice interview, he said, “I love driving this track, it’s Mega. The moment you leave the pitlane, you’re like yea, this is wicked.” He further added, “The car didn’t feel bad. I think we’ve got some work to do. Not the greatest but not the worst, by far. It’s feeling pretty decent.” Despite topping the time charts, he was a bit conscious of hyping the team.

Though Hamilton has nothing left to prove in F1, such performances should remind Mercedes about the caliber of the 7-time champion and the value that he adds to the team.

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