F1 | Hamilton has not yet renewed with Mercedes: obvious problems in the negotiation

La midnight of January 1st has finally freed us from 2020, a disastrous year, full of problems that have actually affected the last 10 months of our lives and, inevitably, at least also the first part of 2021. We will not go into the pandemic discussion, we will not competes, we only hope that you are well, wishing you the best possible future.

At that time, returning to the topics that are most suited to these pages, Lewis Hamilton's contract with Mercedes has expired, which is therefore officially unemployed. It is a rather unprecedented situation for Formula 1, because finding the reigning champion still without a seat due to an agreement which, evidently, has not yet arrived is not at all common. Mind you, we had noticed the feeling that things are not entirely rosy between the seven-time world champion and the Anglo/German team in recent weeks, even speaking to each other in the editorial office, throwing in a few jokes about the fact that Hamilton could really do not show up at the starting line in 2021.

There are several things that need to be evaluated, we cannot limit ourselves to sensations. First of all, Mercedes is now divided into three equal parts: Daimler, INEOS and Toto Wolff they are in fact equal shareholders, and this inevitably changes the scenarios in the asset of the world champion team since 2014. In the very first hours of the new year a rumor became loud that Hamilton is still far from the contract renewal, because it seems that one of the shareholders (most likely Daimler, ed.) does not agree with the proposal of a four-year salary for a figure ranging from 40 to 50 million euros per season. Lewis, very sure of continuing after the title victory in Türkiye according to his statements after the race he found himself a little taken aback by the apparently sudden braking of the German Mercedes team.

This one from Daimler, but it is only an impression of the person writing, it almost seems like a sort of counter-slap after the renewal of Valtteri Bottas, which seems not to have been particularly appreciated by Wave Källenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz AG. There is also the question of Russell which takes center stage, because the young Briton demonstrated in just one race weekend that he was capable of getting on the monstrous W11 and managing to win, a success that was only lost due to the disaster in the pits.

Here, Russell, are we sure that Hamilton would like such an uncomfortable rival at his side and in the same car? The answer is simple: absolutely not! Bottas is the perfect profile, he is the ideal companion, since at the moment Mercedes can easily win the two world championships because in fact there is no real competition (this will also be the case in 2021, here is the in-depth analysis from July). Hamilton is only interested in having the certainty of being able to continue to win and earn what is due to a seven-time world champion, and in fact the new proposal from the Stella company, that of one year with an option for 2022, makes us understand first of all how the parts are damned far away, and then like Hamilton and Russell, in the same car in the same championship, they will probably never fit together (Covid permitting, ed.).

So what do we do? Do you want Hamilton to sign a four-year contract, also giving him a veto right on various issues, including the choice of teammate, or will an agreement be reached that will allow him to become the most successful driver in history in terms of world titles, in solitary, and then let him go and start again with George Russell another technical era? But what a great question, to which we can hazard a not too direct answer: Russell will get on Mercedes in 2022, Hamilton or no Hamilton, there is little that can be done. We should not forget those points of reference that English no longer has, such as Niki Lauda and Dieter Zetsche, while the relationship with Toto wolff, apparently calm, could also change now that the Austrian has become CEO of Mercedes, who will push to bring the good George Russell on board the Anglo/German car, without too many impediments from the other shareholders.

The issue is much more controversial than it might have seemed two months ago, and the tired Lewis, probably affected by the virus seen in Abu Dhabi, certainly preferred to postpone the discussion of the new contract. There is a lot at stake, but the most important thing is probably that Hamilton will become eight-time world champion in 2021, an opportunity too good to miss. At that point, however, the motivations, economic and otherwise, of a driver who may even be slightly bored also come into play, which can never be ruled out a priori, even if consciously unlikely.

All this paper to tell you that in two months we will be back on track for the Barcelona tests, and a few weeks before the 2021 cars will probably be revealed, not too dissimilar to the ones we saw on track up to three weeks ago. Hamilton's renewal could therefore hold sway for much of the winter, and we don't feel like ruling out any options, even if we believe that in the end, one way or another, the British seven-time world champion will be on board the W12 or W11B that is in Melbourne.