09-02-21, 09:57
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#12
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re: Lewis Hamiltons’ Title Hopes Hit by Brazil Penalty & Investigation
Lewis Hamilton Faces Uncertain F1 Future After Toto Wolffs' Suggestion Over New Era
After months of speculation - and with the 2021 season getting underway in Bahrain next month - Hamilton's spot on the grid was confirmed on Monday
Daily Mirror UK, 9 FEB, 2021.
Lewis Hamilton will work under Toto Wolff at Mercedes for at least another season
Sir Lewis Hamilton finally ended his long-running contract dispute with Mercedes by signing a new one-year deal - but his future beyond that remains uncertain.
After months of speculation - and with the 2021 season getting underway in Bahrain next month - Hamilton's spot on the grid was confirmed on Monday.
The Briton, 36, has negotiated a pay rise on his old £35million-a-year deal which expired on the final day of December, with the new terms believed to be worth up to £40m on a shorter one-year agreement.
But the 12-month extension raises the increasing possibility that Hamilton, who has won six of his seven world titles with Mercedes, may be preparing for his last hurrah with F1's all-conquering team.
And his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has refused to play down those concerns, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas' seat also up for renewal at the end of the year.
"Lewis needs to decide what his future holds for him so I wouldn't want to comment on where he stands (in 2022)," said Wolff.
"On the other side, the team needs to decide long-term what we are going to do about our drivers.
"Valtteri and Lewis have our 100 per cent commitment and loyalty for 2021. We will support them with everything we have."
George Russell, who impressed when standing in for Hamilton last year, has been linked with a permanent drive next season while Mercedes are also long-term admirers of Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen.
Wolff flirted with the idea of luring F1's younger talents to the Silver Arrows and added: "We will then look beyond this year and say what is the line-up that we imagine in 2022 and onwards?
"Our first discussion will be with Valtteri and Lewis in respecting our values of loyalty and integrity, but on the other side, the young drivers are the future and we need to consider how we want to set ourselves up for the years beyond.
"As long as Lewis enjoys racing he is very capable of going longer. He looks after himself, physically and mentally, so I don't think in terms of ability that ends in 2021. But in the end, it is his decision."
Hamilton will this season bid to win an unprecedented eighth world title and surpass Michael Schumacher as the most successful F1 driver of all time.
Somewhat surprisingly, there was no reaction from Hamilton on his social media channels following Monday's announcement.
But, in a press release, he said: "I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes team-mates.
"Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track."
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