The wait is over: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have announced a new contract, with the seven-time world champion signing a one-year deal for 2021.
In a highly unusual situation, Hamilton began the year without a contract to race in 2021, despite the 36-year-old Briton and Mercedes insisting that a contract would be agreed upon when, not if.
The Covid-19 pandemic made it difficult to meet face-to-face, so Mercedes and Hamilton decided to postpone talks to focus on the title, and Hamilton tested positive for Covid-19, further delaying things.
Hamilton and Wolff will continue their partnership, with Hamilton entering his ninth consecutive season with the Silver Arrows.
However, Hamilton and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff have finally finalised the small details of the contract, paving the way for the new deal to be announced three weeks before the Silver Arrows reveal their 2021 challenger.
READ MORE: Champions Mercedes confirms launch date for 2021 F1 challenger
Mercedes says that a significant portion of the new agreement builds on Hamilton and Mercedes’ joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport from last year. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation dedicated to promoting greater diversity and inclusion in all aspects of motorsport.
“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes team mates,” Hamilton told ESPN. “Our team has accomplished incredible things together, and we are excited to build on our success while constantly striving to improve, both on and off the track.
“I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations, and I’m grateful that Mercedes has been so supportive of my efforts to address this issue. I’m pleased to announce that we are expanding that effort this year by establishing a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in sports. I am inspired by what we can accomplish together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.
Hamilton will team up with Valtteri Bottas for the fifth consecutive season, following a one-year contract extension announced in August. In 2021, Hamilton will enter his ninth season with Mercedes.
“We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process,” Wolff recalled.
“Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to launch a longer-term project to advance our shared commitment to greater diversity in our sport. Lewis’ competitive record is among the best in sports history, and he is a valuable ambassador for our brand and partners.
“The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”
The confirmation of Hamilton’s deal completes the 2021 F1 grid, with the Briton aiming for an unprecedented eighth world championship – and seventh in eight years.
