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Hamilton contract stalemate ‘has to be’ due to Mercedes car worries

Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton is waiting to see how competitive his Mercedes is this year before committing to a new deal. Speaking ahead of the first race of the 2023 season in Bahrain this weekend, Button said the length of time it was taking to announce Hamilton’s contract could only be because the seven-time world champion wanted to know the lie of the land before signing. It has to be that, right?” the 2009 world champion said.

Why otherwise would you leave it this late? He knows how annoying we all are asking [about the contract]. I mean, we’ve got to ask the question, but he’s going to hate answering it over and over and over again. It can only be because he’s wondering how competitive they will be.

Mercedes blew hot and cold at last week’s three-day test in Bahrain. The Brackley team appeared largely to be on top of the porpoising” issues that so bogged them down last year. But they lost their way with set-up on day two, which they finished two seconds adrift on the timesheets.

They then bounced back with a more encouraging third day. Both Hamilton, 38, whose deal expires at the end of this year , and Mercedes have been saying for months that a new multi-year deal is a formality. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, was adamant last month that it was just a question of “]sticking our heads together, wrestling a bit, and then leaving the room with white smoke after a few hours.

However, the Austrian said at the car launch two weeks ago that he was reluctant to commit to any timeline because “it’s not important for Lewis nor for us at this stage Button, 43, said he was not sure where Hamilton’s head was at. Is he going to sign if the car is uncompetitive because he wants it to be quick again before he retires?” he asked.

Or is he thinking, ‘If it’s not better, I’m just going to retire’. Who knows?” Asked which team would be quickest this season, Button said defending champions Red Bull would undoubtedly start as favourites, even with the aero penalty they received for exceeding the 2021 budget cap. But he added that he hoped to see Mercedes back in the hunt for wins, not least because he was “fascinated” to watch the intra-team battle between team-mates Hamilton and George Russell.

I think it’s a great fight, said Button, who was team-mates with Hamilton for three years at McLaren from 2010-2012. “You know, they’re both so talented. One’s obviously got more world championships than anyone else.

But George, you know, he’s just great, he really is, in terms of his driving, in terms of his engineering skills. I think he’s a great talent. Russell edged Hamilton in their first season together, but Button warned: “First year, it’s easy because there’s no real pressure on your shoulders.

Nobody expects you to beat Lewis Hamilton. But second year in, it’s like, ‘Now we’re going to see what you can do’. So I’m looking forward to watching that.

They’re both hopefully going to be fighting for wins.


From: telegraph
URL: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2023/02/28/lewis-hamilton-contract-stalemate-has-due-mercedes-car-worries/

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