Niki Lauda: "Hamilton will stay at Mercedes"

  • Published on 19 Apr 2018 10:01
  • comments 5
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Lewis Hamilton will eventually sign a new deal to stay at Mercedes. That is the claim of F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda, even though extended talks between the two sides have so far not succeeded.

But Lauda told Auto Motor und Sport: "It's just about the details. Lewis will continue to drive for us."

He admits, however, that the negotiations have been a rollercoaster, particularly as they have spanned both good times and Hamilton's more recent slump. "Depending on the mood, it is sometimes more or less expensive," Lauda said. "It always depends on how the last race went. But the money is not a problem. We agree in principle."

Hamilton denies that the uncertainty about his future could explain in part his performance slump, insisting: "When I'm driving I'm not thinking about contracts."

In reality, Mercedes can relax. Hamilton has scant options, and his teammate Valtteri Bottas is now starting to perform strongly and consistently. "That was the best race I've ever seen from Valtteri," boss Toto Wolff said after China.

There have been rumours Daniel Ricciardo might move to Mercedes, but Red Bull is now offering him a winning car and Dr Helmut Marko says money is not an issue. "We have a very good bonus system," he said. "He is already well placed." Ricciardo, who says he has "options", told The Times that he is looking for a two-year contract to coincide with the end of the Concorde Agreement. (GMM)

RogerF1

Posts: 501

Yawn!

  • 1
  • Apr 19 2018 - 14:44

Replies (5)

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  • RogerF1

    Posts: 501

    Yawn!

    • + 1
    • Apr 19 2018 - 14:44
  • On another note: we have successfully confirmed that water is in fact wet. This was established by scientists at a scientific institute of wet water physics.

    • + 0
    • Apr 19 2018 - 15:37
  • of course he will, why on earth would he move when he's at the most dominant team in F1 history and has a #2 driver in the other car who isn't willing/capable of racing him.

    • + 0
    • Apr 19 2018 - 18:54
  • Only Ferrari could afford him anyway, and that's not an option so he's definitely staying with Merc.

    • + 0
    • Apr 20 2018 - 08:59
  • Major Tom

    Posts: 152

    Funny - until this moment I never doubted it, but now . . .

    • + 0
    • Apr 20 2018 - 15:20

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