Hamilton sticks to Mercedes with new $46.6 million deal

By: Jack De Menezes


Lewis Hamilton has agreed a new contract with reigning Formula 1 champions Mercedes, his team have confirmed. The 30-year-old's contract was due to expire at the end of the season, and having delayed talks last season in order to focus on the Drivers' Championship battle with team-mate Nico Rosberg, negotiations have dragged on well into 2015.
That delay prompted speculation that he could leave the German manufacturer and join Ferrari in 2016, but Hamilton played down these rumours and admitted earlier this month that a deal would be announced in the next few days.

The two-time world champion, who is bidding to join Jackie Stewart as the only British three-time F1 champion, is already the highest earning active sportsman from Britain.But his new deal is expected to represent a significant increase on his current deal.

It's been suggested that Hamilton's new three-year contract, once bonuses have been taken into account, will be worth more than $46.6 million a year, which stands as a $14 million increase on his annual salary.

Hamilton currently leads Rosberg by 20 points after the German's victory at the Spanish Grand Prix last time out, and with Rosberg agreeing a new contract of his own last season, it's clear that Mercedes have their long-term vision planned in their current two drivers despite their long-term rivalry that stems back to the start of last season.

The pair memorably clashed at the Monaco Grand Prix last season when Hamilton felt that Rosberg deliberately went off during the final qualifying session in order to bring out yellow flags and forced Hamilton to slow down on his flying-lap around the streets of the principality. Rosberg would go on to claim pole and win the race the following day.

The Independent