Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have both signed contract extensions. They will remain with Mercedes through 2025.
Mercedes have settled their driver lineup for the foreseeable future. Lewis Hamilton will race for Mercedes into his 40s and look to claim another title alongside George Russell and Toto Wolff. This new contract extension should motivate the two and give them confidence for the race in Monza this weekend. Here is what is known about the contract:
Their contracts are two-year extensions that will run through the 2025 season. Hamilton is 38 years old and is set for his 11th season with the Mercedes team. Russell is 25 and hoping to become the future of Mercedes Formula 1 team. The salary details regarding their contracts are still unknown to the public, but both sides came to an agreement amid the rumors and speculation.
The speculation behind Hamilton’s contract
Hamilton is one of the most decorated drivers in Formula 1 history. With 103 wins and 7 Driver Championships, he is the most successful driver in the sport’s history. With Mercedes, he has won 6 of his 7 Drivers’ Championships and totaled 82 wins on 78 pole positions. Since he began racing for them, the team has also claimed 8 Constructors’ Championships.
The numbers do not lie. This is the greatest partnership in all of motorsport. So what was the trouble in re-signing Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes? The greatest concerns were likely their recent form and Hamilton’s age. The team has not been able to dominate the sport ever since Max Verstappen dethroned Hamilton in controversial fashion. The team finished 3rd last year and has not had a race win since George Russell’s one and only win in Brazil last season. Hamilton and Mercedes seemed to struggle with the regulation changes and the new car. This allowed Red Bull to create a massive gap and give the other teams a chance to catch up to them. Mercedes has work to do before they can flip the script and challenge Red Bull for the length of an entire season. However, they are putting their faith in both drivers to help them get back to dominant form.
What does this mean for Mercedes now?
With a desire to get back on winning form, the driver lineup would play a crucial role in the team’s future success. George Russell has been a great, young addition to the team and has proven that he can race at a high level. The team already has a potential future superstar, so it makes sense to secure a veteran like Lewis Hamilton. There are not many drivers that are more deserving of the Mercedes seats than Hamilton and Russell. This tandem of drivers will be considered one of the best lineups on the grid for years to come. They will be key contributors to the team’s success for the upcoming seasons.
Hamilton will continue to race and attempt to show why he is arguably the greatest driver of all time. Russell will attempt to win his first world championship in F1. Nevertheless, now that they have secured seats in F1, they should be able to rest a bit easier. The drivers will look to prove that they are worthy of their new contracts this weekend in Italy. Mercedes currently sits in P2 and aims to extend their lead over the rest of the grid.
