Hamilton wants new $66m per year Mercedes deal
Lewis Hamilton's teammate is his "only opponent" in Formula 1, according to Max Verstappen.
In recent days, rumours have emerged from Italy suggesting that six-time world champion Hamilton has upped the stakes in his negotiations with Mercedes over 2021 and beyond.
Corriere dello Sport reportedly claims that the 35-year-old wants his retainer to be raised to a staggering EUR 60 million (US $66m) per year, and as a sweetener is offering to become a Mercedes ambassador after he retires.
But that is at odds with new Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius' reported desire to cut costs by a billion dollars by 2022. Mercedes is believed to instead be offering Hamilton a new two-year deal at EUR 45 million per season.
Indeed, team boss Toto Wolff was quoted last week as saying: "While I still very much hope that our relationship continues, I am not totally in control of that."
Spain's AS newspaper thinks it is all a prelude to a fascinating driver 'silly season' this year, with Daniel Ricciardo tipped to leave Renault and Fernando Alonso to potentially replace the Australian.
Verstappen, who was linked with Mercedes until he recently signed a new deal through 2023 with Red Bull, said of Hamilton: "Lewis has not had the best teammates in recent years.
"If you have the right car you can beat everyone. Hamilton is an exceptional driver, one of the best who has raced in Formula 1, but he also has the best car," said the Dutchman.
"And when you have the dominant car, your teammate is your only opponent."
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Bargain :- When a football player can cost £100 million+ for a 5 year contract and then another £20 million a year in wages.
He deserves 60 and more plus all records that will going down on 2020, 60 millions are nothing for Mercedes. He is the greatest ever F1 driver ,keep together with the greatest car on the world.
My prediction: He gets it, or ends up at Ferrari!
He is the best F1 driver in history, give it to him!
With the Mercedes car 2019, bottas can get the title if there is no Hamilton, so if I were Mercedes, y should I pay that much?
No way - Max would intimidate Bottas and steal the title - it's no all about Money Merc want those records out of reach and there's only One man to do that... Even max would take time to settle in IF he had gone there so no - LH for the job
But without Hamilton, they would have lost 2017 & 2018 titles to Vettel. What if , in 2020, the top cars are competitive like 2017 & 2018? Merc will need Hamilton
Odds are better that MB will leave the sport as an entrant and just sell engines than that they will pay HAM $66m. Lewis is absolutely first rate, but there is not an athlete in the world worth that kind of money to MB. Let him drive a red car and fade to retirement.
Hamilton might be worth that amount of money but Mercedes is hesitant to award him as they actually have nothing more to prove since they have been the best constructor in F1 for the last 7 seasons and I am not that convinced that the bosses want to help Lewis to achieve his dream to become F1 record championship holder.
He is worth every penny. Pay him US 10m for every Championship he has won, plus US 1m bonus
per championship he has won. Thats what i think he should be paid. if not he should leave and join the Ferrari.
Understanding the economics of spor and entertainment, and personally think that he is the greatest driver to this point in time, the amounts of money asked for and paid to any one person are really quite outrageous considering how these funds could do more good. His request is preposterous and takes away from my regards for him as a human being (and I really think he gives a monkey ?)
I am a real Lewis fan but if Mercedes do decide to withdraw (BMW did), he won't get 60m€a year. It would be a pity if he pushes too hard and triggers MB withdrawing. A pity for everyone, competitors and spectators alike.
Lewis is the greatest F1 driver of all time and our British world champion, he deserves every penny he is asking for, it's a dangerous sport.
Slow down Linda. NOBODY deserves that much money for having fun. Danger?...ask Fangio, Clark, Stewart, Fittipaldi and Lauda about that subject. Yes, I know that we just lost a F2 driver. Still one every decade is better than one every month. Just my opinion.
Alonso and Ricciardo at Mercedes in 2021.
He's worth the money. Vettel would have walked away with 2017 & 2018 titles if it wasn't for Hamilton
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