Lewis Hamilton is currently under contract renegotiation talks with Mercedes, as his current agreement will expire at the end of the season. Therefore, with both parties willing to continue ahead, they must find a resolution soon. However, several demands of Hamilton might be chopped down. One such is a possible move of making Hamilton an ambassador of Mercedes, which can bag him $24.5 million a year.
Hamilton is one of the world’s biggest icons, even when it comes beyond the realms of F1. Thus, it’s not a bad decision to make him an ambassador, as even a decade later, he could be equally popular.
Sir @LewisHamilton and @FCHWPO at the @walesbonner fashion show pic.twitter.com/9f27y7SUaV
— GQ Sports (@GQSports) June 24, 2023
However, the deal that could last 10 years and is almost worth $245,000,000 could be at risk. Mercedes doubts it’s unreasonable, even after Hamilton’s humungous popularity.
A Long-term relationship under threat
If such a demand is fulfilled, Hamilton would remain a Mercedes entity even after retirement from F1. According to Ceres Post, the Brit demanded to be an ambassador of Mercedes with annual pay of around $24.5 million for the next 10 years.
But this demand is unacceptable to Mercedes, and the team hierarchy is pushing against it. It’s on Hamilton to withdraw this request and go further in the deal.
Surely, Mercedes doesn’t want to end the relationship with Hamilton as of now and sees him as their driver for the next year at least. So, a contract for a year with an option to extend for 2025 is likely to be an agreement that will be reached. Though, a handsome championship-winning bonus will be there. But will that ever be activated?
Lewis Hamilton is aiming to be back at the top
It’s been almost two years since last Hamilton challenged for the title. But June has been a motivating month for Mercedes as their new upgrades signal that the team’s progress from here is possible.
While winning the championship is a far cry this year, things could be different next year. And if Mercedes can contend for the title, then Hamilton surely will be one of the season’s protagonists.
With that, he could also bag his championship bonus and end his career on a high, as this year only he mentioned that he would like to go out as an eight-time world champion.
