Sep.11 - Lewis Hamilton is holding out for a 2021 pay-rise, according to a former Formula 1 driver.

As the 'silly season' continues to fire, it is notable that the most coveted seat on the grid - the one occupied by the six-time world champion - is officially open for 2021.

But it is clear that Mercedes wants to keep Hamilton.

"Maybe the time will come soon when we really have to talk," team boss Toto Wolff told Bild newspaper.

"But we both have no stress at all, even if that sounds strange to you all."

JJ Lehto, a former Benetton teammate to Michael Schumacher, says he has heard rumours that Hamilton is simply pushing for more money.

"Hamilton is asking for 5 million more," the Finn told Iltalehti newspaper. "He's playing that game at the moment."

But Lehto tips Hamilton to ultimately win.

"His seventh championship is coming, so who else is Mercedes going to take? Hamilton is also just so linked to Mercedes. He is the superstar who breaks all the records."


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18 F1 Fan comments on “Lehto: Hamilton wants '5 million more' for 2021

  1. Derek G STODDART

    I am a BIG Fan of Lewis Hamilton, but if the news that he wants 5 million for 2021 is correct then he has PERMANENTLY LOST my Support and I would imagine that will be the case of many of his other Fans

    At a Time when hundreds of people have lost their Jobs , Homes , and the lives of their loved ones, that decision is Sheer GREED for a person who has so much money and NEVER seems to do anything Visible for the many Needy Charities

    I understand his support for "Black Lives Matter" but I believe that he has become unterly obsessed with that important topic, to the detriment of the support of his fans

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    • Ayolaw

      If Hamilton wants 5 million more for 2021, that is his opinion of his worth, and that is a matter for Mercedes to accept or not. It is a matter of contract, and IMO that is not greed , as you claim. Asking for just a 5 raise is conservative. For all his achievement, he is worth at least 10 million more
      At every point in the history of humanity, whether or not in a pandemic, "hundreds of people have always lost jobs, homes and lives of their loved ones". That has never been a reason not to appreciate and pay for value.
      If he loses your support for wanting a raise after winning Championships and breaking records and expanding the brand of Mercedes then it means your support is undesirable and to hell with it. Am sure Lewis doesn't need it!
      And you are wrong to imagine that many of his supporters have warped and ignorant way of thinking like you. No. They know the worth of Lewis, and they know the lot he is doing for many charities. You cannot claim to be a spokesman for his real, genuine, knowlegeable supporters. Good riddance to your support of Lewis. We don't need a dickhead like you !

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  2. Geriatric Racer

    Time to GIVE HIM FLICK!!!! The amount he already earns is OBSCENE, He is getting like SCHUMAKER was....TOO BIG FOR HIS BOOTS, There are heaps of YOUNG TALENT AROUND, and TOTO would take please in replacing him......With no drive in F1 he can spend ALL HIS TIME TO HELP HIS COLORED COUSINS, Bye Bye Lewis !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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      • geriactric racer

        No it's not idiocy, it's fact LEWIS IS THE ONE WHO HAS MADE IT
        POLITICAL....and his TEE SHIRT display was over the top, C'mon LIBERTY STOP THIS NONSENSE,...IT'S GONE TOO FAR...and
        .TOTO give Lewis the heave ho and allow GEORGE RUSSELL to SHINE

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        • ReallyOldRacer

          You obviously don't understand that using a racial slur is, in fact, idiocy. Plenty of good reasons to question HAM's worth, but the color of his skin is not one of them.

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  3. Kyle

    Absolutely don't give him a penny/cent/euro more ....... he may throw his diamond encrusted toys out of the cot, but will he actually move from Mercedes and then down the grid??? .... his overinflated ego wont allow that..

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  4. Dave Grant

    Hamilton's success has made F1 boring, so much so, that he can't see the 2 RED lights warning him not to enter the pits! He would not have got anywhere, if his father hadn't worked 4 jobs to raise necessary funds for training! I sincerely hope his father is getting his share now, for his dedication and investment!

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  5. ReallyOldRacer

    Hey, costs money to buy those t-shirts. Seriously, IMO every driver's income should be incentive based plus a small fixed salary, ideally the same for every driver. HAM would still be top dog and these ridiculous silly season negotiations would be moot. Best drivers to the best teams but they would earn it through results.

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  6. David Larison

    Hamilton is in the best Formula 1 ride, so he wins races. When he was with Mclaren he won 1 championship, however noone picked hime to win 6 more. There are several F1 drivers who could replace him and continue to win. Some people seem to forget he was a whinny crybaby whenever things didn't go his way at Mclaren, he recently peddled on his little Scooter to cry to the Marshals about his 10 second penalty. Mercedes should look at some of the young Lions in Formula 1 and move forward, the Rules changes in 2022 will hopefully make it possible for even the smaller Teams to score big! Have Toto Wolfe call or email me for more enlightenment.

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    • Ayolaw

      David, you must think that Mercedes in all its might, power and glory, not to talk of its high level of efficiency and technical know-how are stupid to be paying Hamilton big bucks!
      And that you, a nonentity will teach them what to do. Congrats to you!
      What have you got to say about Vettel earning 40million Euros for 6 years in Ferrarri with no single Championship to show for it? You must be a racist clown!

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  7. David Larison

    Denial is not a river in Egypt, Hamilton is a good Driver, but he isn't Fernando Alonzo or Michael Schumacker. He is winning the races because he has hands down a much better ride than his opponents. If you would like to focus on a Great Driver in the making, start by paying attention to Max Verstappen. I served 28 years in the US Army and I have made many friends who are Black that enjoy Auto Racing to include Formula 1, I don't consider myself a Racist.

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  8. Mike W

    "Hamilton is as good if not better than both Schumacher and Alonso. He is without question faster than both put together as his pole records prove beyond doubt and his speed was evident long before he joined Mercedes. I've been with him from the start and could tell from his very first year at Mclaren he was streets ahead of the rest of the drivers with the exception of maybe Alonso. As always though 'haters' love to go after winners who consistently excel far ahead of the competition. Add to that the racist element which so many of them seem to possess and there you go. With the exception of Max Verstappen who will dominate the sport for years to come, Lewis would still be thrashing the rest of the grid even if they were all in identical cars because quite simply, he's the fastest and the best and he deserves every penny he gets."

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  9. Peter Westerlund

    Hamilton needs Mercedes, Ham is nothing without Mercedes, . Ham wouldn’t win so much if he leaves Mercedes, is he stupid !? Everyone knows that if Ham leaves Mercedes, he’s done !! No more “champ” with another car !! If Han wants 5 mil more, I’d give him 5 mil less....

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