Confirmation of Hamilton's new deal has certainly already been a long time coming. Talks opened during winter testing - the start, from the media's perspective, of a raft of 'it will be done, but we don't when' updates from both Lewis and Toto Wolff. Now, it seems, it finally has been done. An announcement in Germany makes corporate sense, of course, to Mercedes given that this weekend's race is their home event. But there are still several significant factors of intrigue to ponder: Will Mercedes also announce Valtteri Bottas has extended his deal? How long will Hamilton's extension be? Will there be a clause in the deal to extend beyond 2020 ahead of F1's re-set? If he is retained, will Bottas be given a one-year deal for a third successive season by Mercedes? Hopefully by the end of the day we will have some answers...
(And not a crayon in sight)
"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life"....Marco Simoncelli
(This post was last modified: 19-07-2018, 10:30 AM by forzaferrari.)
(19-07-2018, 10:20 AM)forzaferrari Wrote: An announcement in Germany makes corporate sense, of course, to Mercedes given that this weekend's race is their home event.
German team? pretty sure their a British team coz my mate told me...….. Haha
"When a man holds you round the throat, I don't think he has come to apologise"
Ayrton Senna on Nigel Mansell, SPA 1987.
(This post was last modified: 19-07-2018, 10:51 AM by PapaofGags.)
2 year extension, supposedly agreed pre-Canadian GP. Mercedes wanted 4 years, Lewis wants 2 years. Lewis gets 2 years. Bottas expected to be confirmed for 2 years as well, although Ocon, has stalled on an FI extension apparently and FI are looking at potential replacements.
One of the immediate questions raised by Hamilton's extension is why Mercedes haven't also re-confirmed Valtteri Bottas for 2019 as well.
Here's a very interesting answer to that question from Sky F1's Ted Kravitz:
"My understanding is that they want to do one announcement at a time. It’s important for the drivers to get all the focus on them and for the team to get their story out one driver at a time. To have announced Bottas at the same time as Hamilton may have diluted the message. But my understanding is that the contract with Bottas is very close to being signed – if not signed. We may even get an announcement tomorrow that Bottas has signed to stay with Hamilton at Mercedes in 2019 and 2020."
"When a man holds you round the throat, I don't think he has come to apologise"
Ayrton Senna on Nigel Mansell, SPA 1987.
(This post was last modified: 19-07-2018, 11:56 AM by PapaofGags.)
"My understanding is that they want to do one announcement at a time. It’s important for the drivers to get all the focus on them and for the team to get their story out one driver at a time. To have announced Bottas at the same time as Hamilton may have diluted the message.
Maybe Im a sceptical ol b@stard but it reads to me like....."this is all about Lewis, its Lewis`s day, you can read about Bottas`s new contract on page 28 of next Tuesdays copy of The Brixworth Herald"
"You live more for 5 minutes going fast on a bike than other people do in all of their life"....Marco Simoncelli
(This post was last modified: 19-07-2018, 11:59 AM by forzaferrari.)