Is a journey that started in 2013, when Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes, coming to an end? 82 wins, 77 pole positions, 6 world championships, and 1 dream—to win a seventh driver’s title with Mercedes and his eighth overall. The Briton and his team have worked toward getting him that title ever since he won his seventh in 2020 but have fallen short these past few seasons. Even so, Mercedes is still a top team, regularly competing for podiums. But even if an eighth world title looks impossible this season, what is stopping Hamilton from signing a new contract with the team?

There have been rumors that Lewis was offered a $49 million contract to join Ferrari. Even though he quickly shut them down, Mercedes was ready to offer him a $63 million contract. If it’s about money, Mercedes is offering him more. And if it’s about winning that record-breaking title, considering recent performances and developments, Mercedes is still the better option. But Toto Wolff believes his decision depends on more than those two factors.

Will Lewis Hamilton stay at Mercedes?

Ever since Hamilton joined Mercedes a decade ago, he’s had a great relationship with the team as well as the team principal, Toto Wolff. And his success in the team is a testament to the relationships he has within it. But his contract is expiring at the end of this season, and whether he’ll renew it is the question, the entire F1 community is awaiting an answer for. 

In a recent interview, Wolff talked about Lewis’ contract and what’s taking so long for it to come through. He explained that even though the two of them share such a strong relationship and, more importantly, a friendship, there are other factors Hamilton is considering. As quoted by f1journaal.be, Wolff said, “Obviously many more people are involved. There is Lewis management, lawyers on our side, it never depends on me alone.”

Read More: After Lewis Hamilton’s Shoutout Following Recent Success, Toto Wolff Delivers High Praise for Mick Schumacher

Mercedes has taken considerable steps in the past few race weekends to close the gap with Red Bull. In terms of developing its challenger, it’s one of the best teams on the grid. And the fact that the team revamped the W14 entirely and started afresh and is now competing against Aston Martin for P2 in the championship is indicative of what it can do next season. And if winning the title once more is still the dream, Mercedes is the place to do it for Lewis Hamilton. But, as a 38-year-old, in his 17th season in the sport, his priorities might’ve changed.

F1 may not be the most important thing to Hamilton anymore

Hamilton is no longer the same person he was when he joined the sport in 2007. Over the past 17 years, the sport has watched him grow from a fiery young talent to a record-breaking proven driver to a veteran. And now that he is a veteran, there’s new talent, younger talent in the sport, that is ready to take him on.

In a recent interview, two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen commented that Hamilton’s priorities in life have changed as he’s gotten older. He believes the Briton no longer has the energy to get up every day and give it his all, especially when he’s up against the younger generation. Being the driver he is, he will give everything he has till his last day in F1, but there will soon come a time when he decides to hang up his racing boots. 

Watch This Story: How 10-year-old friendship between Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff is coming in the way of $35 million worth of contract renewal

Do you think Hamilton will sign the Mercedes contract before the upcoming Austria GP and make it a home race weekend to celebrate Toto Wolff?