Lewis Hamilton has said the time isn’t right to sit down with Mercedes and negotiate a new Formula 1 contract, given what’s happening in the world.
The Briton’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the current season in just a handful of months, but Hamilton insists he’s in no rush to sign a new deal which he described as a formality, but only when the time is right.
His comments were made on the same day team-mate Valtteri Bottas was confirmed for 2021 on a one-year extension.
“Honestly it doesn’t feel like the right time to sit… when you think about so many people in the world who have lost their jobs, people are unemployed… to then sit and negotiate a big contract,” said Hamilton.
“It just doesn’t seem like the most important thing that I need to apply time to right this second.”
Hamilton, who is on the brink of securing a seventh Formula 1 World Championship to match Michael Schumacher’s record, is certain his future is with Mercedes and confirmed he isn’t talking to any other team.
“The fact is that I do want to continue with this team and it’s not a big effort for us to sit down and get it done.
“It’s just right now I don’t feel comfortable with it and I want to wait a little bit longer. I’m not talking to anybody else.
“I’m looking forward to continuing a new chapter with the team in terms of how we educate ourselves and what we are going to do to help be more diverse and inclusive moving forwards, so I’m super excited for what is possible to do with Mercedes-Benz and this team moving forwards. At some stage it will get done, I’m not stressed.”
Many of the ‘big’ drivers have long-term agreements with Charles Leclerc set to stay at Ferrari until 2024 and Max Verstappen recently signing a deal with Red Bull through 2023.
