“There are lot of games that goes on”- David Coulthard sheds light on Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes contract talks

“There are lot of games that goes on”- David Coulthard explains what is taking so long in the negotiations between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton.

It’s been too long since Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton has entered a deadlock to extend the alliance ahead of the 2021 season, while George Russell is emerging as a suitable replacement.

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has insight into what must be going internally, taking so long to conclude the fiasco. He has clarified that he has no precise information from the inside and talking in general terms.

“There are lot of games that goes on,” Coulthard told Express Sport. “As to why there isn’t an announcement regarding Lewis, it could be several reasons,” he added.

“It could be that Mercedes feel they have gotten all of the value they are going to get out of Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton breaking the Championship record this year, does that serve Lewis or does it serve Mercedes more?”

“If it serves Lewis more being an eight-time world champion then there’s nothing really in it for Mercedes. If it serves Mercedes more, it doesn’t really bother Lewis because he still gets an eighth title.”

It doesn’t matter how good you are; It’s business.

He further speculated that there must be vying for clauses that affect Hamilton’s future marketing, ensuring monetary gains to either side, and that is why maybe Hamilton is asking more than Mercedes is willing to provide.

“Business is business. Nobody gives money away because somebody is nice or somebody is good at what they’re doing. There has to be an agreement on what the perceived value is.”

He continued: “Maybe Lewis wants more marketing rights to use his image with Mercedes, which I expect he is not able to now.

“He can use his own personal image, he is a Tommy Hilfiger ambassador, but he wouldn’t have the right to have a picture alongside a Lewis Hamilton vodka with a Formula One car behind him because those rights belong to the team. Maybe he is negotiating those.

“You could write an encyclopedia on what could be in a contract.”

About the author

Tanish Chachra

Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books.

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