Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton has finally signed a new one-year deal with Mercedes for the 2021 season.
The news was confirmed by the all-conquering team this morning after months of deliberation and delay, and with just over a month before pre-season testing gets underway.
It is believed that Hamilton, who was knighted in the New Year honours, was compelled to compromise on his original pay demands of £40 million a year given the financial climate and his lack of alternative seats.
Hamilton became the sport’s most successful driver ever last year after breaking Michael Schumacher’s all-time win record and drawing level with the German’s achievement of seven titles.
He has won 74 of his 95 race wins with the Brackley squad.
The 36-year-old’s previous deal lapsed in 2020 but he will now race for Mercedes for a ninth season, and will partner Finn Valtteri Bottas in the black-livered Mercedes again this year.
Part of the deal involves a commitment from Mercedes to continue to work with Hamilton on seeking “greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport”, and will work on creating a new joint charitable foundation.
In a statement, Mercedes said: “The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is pleased to announce that the reigning Formula One World Constructors’ Champion and the reigning F1 World Drivers’ Champion will continue together in 2021.
“The Mercedes works team and Lewis agreed a new contract which will see one of the sport’s most successful ever collaborations continue for a ninth consecutive season.
“A significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year by Lewis and Mercedes.
“This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.”
Hamilton is chasing the eighth championship success, and seventh with his current team, that would put him ahead of every other driver in history, including Schumacher, the Ferrari legend who won seven titles in the Nineties and early years of this century.
The 36-year-old joined Mercedes in 2013 and has since gone on to win 74 Grands Prix races as well as six Drivers’ Championships.
“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes team-mates,” Hamilton said.
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