A lot was coming from the media and other sources while Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were bashing out a contract. Some were talking about Hamilton wanting newer pastures as the Silver Arrows languished in the upper midfield of the pack. While the others speculated that the 7x champion was actually surplus to requirements at Brackley. With the news that Hamilton has signed on for the next two years, a lot of these inklings have been nipped in the bud.
One thing is for sure, Hamilton is as important to Mercedes, as the Silver Arrows are to the Brit. That’s really been the theme of their association, even during their glorious dominating days. That being said, those times have changed, with Red Bull and Max Verstappen claiming the top perch. With that, even the dynamics within the Brackley-based team may have gone through an overhaul.
Hamilton’s contract extension is a sign of change at Mercedes
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Generally, the team calls the shots when it comes to the duties and obligations a driver has towards them. But with the current situation Mercedes find themselves in, they know only a driver like Hamilton, with his experience and pace, can salvage them out of it.
Martin Brundle breaks down Lewis Hamilton's new Mercedes contract 📝 pic.twitter.com/8Os9dP4PX5
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) August 31, 2023
Naturally, there’s a bit more give and a lot less take this time around for Mercedes when it comes to Hamilton’s mega $127,000,000 contract. F1 legend, and Sky Sports F1 pundit, Martin Brundle hypothesized it in as many words.
Just after the announcement, he was quoted as reporting, “He [Lewis Hamilton] would’ve been fighting like crazy to do almost no media and no marketing if he can get away with it. He just wants to drive the racing car of course. So, the power balance changes a little bit.”
Given the Brit’s lofty ambitions, his demands may, after all, not be too unrealistic either.
Lewis Hamilton has a dream with Mercedes
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Hamilton’s not a young 20-year-old anymore. What this means is that he has a handful of years left in him where he can push with Mercedes to challenge for and attain glory again. Consequently, the Brit now wants to only focus on the dream he has with the team, and put everything else on the side.
He was quoted by Sky Sports F1 as saying, “We dream every day of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal. Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication.”
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Can Hamilton win his 8th and potentially more titles with Mercedes?
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