McLaren are close to confirming a new deal with 2008-world champion Lewis Hamilton, managing director Jonathan Neale has confirmed.
Hamilton, who has spent his entire Formula 1 career with McLaren since his debut season in 2007 – in which he came one point short of taking the title – is out of contract come the end of the current year.
Neale though says the two parties are close to an agreement.
“We are closer and of course we are in dialogue,” he told Sky Sports. “For obvious reasons I can’t speculate more at the moment. We are working very hard to find a common ground.”
“He is a fighter, he loves a challenge. He just needs a sniff of it and to feel that the team is behind him and pushing,” he added.
It’s believed a three-year deal is the likely outcome, though the sticking point reportedly remains the ownership of trophies. McLaren have historically kept all original trophies at their Woking factory, with copies going to the drivers. Hamilton is keen for this to change.
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