F1 Insider: Lewis Hamilton Contract With Mercedes Nowhere To Be Seen

Mercedes won't be releasing a contract confirmation this weekend, according to David Croft.

A contract extension between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes won't be unveiled at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, so says Sky Sports' David Croft. Despite recent hints suggesting that the new agreement is nearly inked, including a rumour of Hamilton taking a pay cut and a year's extension, the announcement will not occur this weekend.

Hamilton's current contract with the Brackley squad runs out at the end of this year. And with the team not being able to fight at the front of the grid, this has led fans to wonder whether Lewis will want to stay or explore other avenues. This has fuelled speculations that Hamilton might cast his net wide and consider options beyond Mercedes for the following year. One such option floated around was Ferrari, but Hamilton was quick to quash these rumours, although he did tease a return to McLaren. 

There's been no denying Hamilton's connection to Mercedes hasn't faltered, and Toto Wolff's enthusiasm in keeping the 7-time champion on the team is yet to waiver, too. And while they admitted they'd likely be talking this week, it appears their chat didn't result in anything official, with the team releasing no update so far. 

Croft, the commentator for Sky Sports F1, clarified the situation: 

“As far as I understand it, and I’ve gone and done my chats this morning, nothing this week for Lewis Hamilton and the contract announcement,” the Sky Sports F1 commentator said.

"I know we had some words of teasing from Toto Wolff at the start of the week. Both Lewis and Toto were together in New York, where they may or may not have had a contract chat or two.

“But Lewis made it clear the last time he spoke publicly about it that it was his management team that were sorting out the contract negotiations.

“But as far as I’m aware, the Mercedes team aren’t preparing a press release. Nothing is on standby to go out this weekend.

“A Lewis contract, which is more likely to be two years with an option maybe for an extra year on top of that, is not going to be announced this weekend.

“Lewis is more concentrated on trying to add to that wonderful record here in Montreal of seven wins and six poles.”