Mercedes have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton has signed a new two-year contract extension to remain with the team in Formula 1.
The Briton’s existing deal was set to expire at the end of this year and talks over a new contract have continued to rumble on through the course of this season.
Mercedes has now announced ahead of the Italian Grand Prix weekend that terms have been agreed on a deal that will see Hamilton remain with the side until the end of 2025.
The German marque has also confirmed that George Russell will remain alongside Hamilton for the next two seasons.
“We dream everyday of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal,” Hamilton said.
“Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team.
“We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again. I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”
Russell, who replaced Valtteri Bottas last year and achieved his maiden grand prix win in Brazil, added: “I have grown up with this team ever since joining as part of the Junior programme back in 2017. It’s my home and it feels fantastic to extend our special relationship through 2025.
“After stepping up to the Mercedes race seat last year, I wanted to reward the trust and belief that Toto and the rest of the team placed in me. Taking my first pole position and race win last year was an unforgettable feeling. More importantly though, it’s been great to work with everybody at Brackley and Brixworth to make progress with our car and push forward our development. Their loyalty, vision and hard work is inspiring.
“We have made some significant steps over the last 18 months and are only getting stronger as a team. I’m excited to help continue to build on that momentum as we progress into 2024 and 2025 as we continue to focus on returning to the very front of the pack.”
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has labelled the choice to retain Hamilton and Russell as “a straightforward decision.”
“We have the strongest pairing on the grid and both drivers are playing a crucial role in the team to move us forward,” Wolff continued. “The strength and stability they provide will be key building blocks for our future success.
“Our partnership with Lewis is one of the most successful in the sport’s history. It was always a formality that we would continue together – and it’s energising for us all to be confirming that publicly. His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his remarkable track record; but over our years together, he has grown to become a pillar and leader of our team. Those leadership qualities are crucial as we focus on fighting for world championships again.
“As F1’s biggest global star, he has also played a key role in shaping our commitments to diversity, inclusion and sustainability, that will be foundations for our success in the years ahead.
“George is a leading light of his generation. He has repaid the faith we showed in him when promoting him to a race seat in 2022. His maiden pole position in Hungary and first Grand Prix victory in São Paulo were standout moments last season. As a driver, he combines razor-sharp speed with the tenacity of a true fighter. But he brings, too, an intelligence and attention to detail that will help him to continue to grow, develop and improve further. He is a natural fit to the team and we are delighted to have extended the relationship for the coming years.”
Hamilton arrived at Mercedes back in 2013, having become disillusioned with McLaren’s consistent failure to string together a successful championship challenge.
After accruing a solitary victory in Hungary in his debut year, the introduction of V6 turbo-hybrid engines in 2014 saw Mercedes dominate F1 on an unprecedented scale.
The Brackley-based squad would proceed to win eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships, with Hamilton adding six Drivers’ titles to the one he had achieved at McLaren in 2008, drawing him level with Michael Schumacher on seven.
During that sustained spell of success, Hamilton also surpassed Schumacher’s previous record number of pole positions and race wins to become statistically the greatest driver in F1 history.
He has since elevated both benchmarks beyond the three-figure mark, achieving his 100th pole position and race victory at varying points in the 2021 season.
However, Hamilton would be denied a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship that year when a controversial restart procedure in the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix allowed Max Verstappen to snatch the crown away.
Amid Mercedes’ failure to get on top of the ground effect regulations brought in last year, Hamilton has not been in contention for a title since that defeat to Verstappen.
The ex-McLaren driver has also been unable to add to his tally of 103 race wins, despite taking his first pole position since December 2021 in Hungary last month.
The seven-time champion’s contract extension signals his intention to remain in F1 beyond his 40th birthday, mirroring ex-rival Fernando Alonso, who leads Hamilton in the Drivers’ Standings by 12 points in the pair’s battle for third position.
Hamilton and Russell will front Mercedes’ line-up in F1 until the regulations are next changed in 2026.
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