Lewis Hamilton could sign new deal before Canadian GP this week – Toto Wolff
Lewis Hamilton’s Formula One future could be resolved as early as before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Hamilton has six months to run on his £40million-a-season deal with Mercedes, but team principal Toto Wolff said his superstar driver is on the brink of agreeing new terms. “It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks,” Wolff told CNBC’s Squawk on the Street programme in New York when asked about Hamilton’s contract negotiations. “We are trying hard [to get it done before the Canadian Grand Prix]. I will see him today and maybe we will talk about it. “We have such a good relationship that we dread the moment that we need to talk about money.” Hamilton, 38, met with Wolff the day after the last round in Spain in the hope of rubber-stamping a fresh contract with the Silver Arrows. It is anticipated that the British driver’s extension will be a multi-year deal, extending his stay in F1 beyond his 40th birthday. “Lewis is the most important personality in the sport,” added Wolff. Lewis is the most important personality in the sport Toto Wolff “He is so multi-faceted, not only with the racing, but also off track, so we need to keep him in the sport for as long as possible. “From a team’s perspective, Lewis and Mercedes have gone back a long time. He has never raced for any other brand than Mercedes. “We both joined the team in 2013 together, and from a professional relationship, we now have a friendship. It has been a wonderful time.” Hamilton, who has not won a race since his contentious championship defeat to Max Verstappen at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, is already 83 points off the title pace this year. But Mercedes’ recent upturn in form has provided Hamilton, who finished runner-up to Red Bull’s Verstappen at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, with renewed hope that his dream of a record eighth world title is not over. However, Wolff warned: “The result in Spain was a well-deserved reward for everyone’s efforts at Brackley and Brixworth to bring our update package to the track. “We were pleased with how it performed, and it will provide a new baseline for us to build from. “But we must also manage our expectations. It was a circuit that suited our car, and we should expect our direct competitors to be stronger in the next races. “The gap to Red Bull is large and it will take lots of hard work to close that down. Nevertheless, we’re up for the challenge.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live On this day in 2007: Lewis Hamilton claims first Formula One victory Susie Wolff urges F1 teams to back initiatives to help develop female drivers Max Verstappen tops rain-hit final practice for Spanish Grand Prix
2023-06-13 15:56
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A Restaurant in Wales Is Crowned Best in the UK. Again.
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Todd Boehly, Jay Penske Buy Scandal-Tainted Golden Globes Awards
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Christian Horner reveals how close Fernando Alonso was to joining Red Bull
Christian Horner has revealed that Fernando Alonso “missed his chance” to move to Red Bull 15 years ago after turning down a two-year contract offer. Alonso, a two-time world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, was back at Renault in 2008 after a year to forget at McLaren in 2007, when he was involved in a high-profile squabble with rookie Lewis Hamilton. Aspiring to be in a competitive car once more, Alonso was in talks with Red Bull at the end of 2008, Horner says, but instead stayed at Renault before joining Ferrari in 2010. “We got very close to signing Alonso,” Horner told Motor Sport magazine. “Helmut [Marko] and I went to see his management at the end of 2008 for the ’09 and ’10 season and we offered him a two-year contract. “He would only sign up for one year and we said Red Bull’s position was a two-year deal or nothing and he wouldn’t commit to that. We thought he’d had a Ferrari contract very clearly for ’09. “What was weird about that was that Flavio [Briatore] was involved as well, but he was trying to get him for Renault which he was managing at the time and in the end he drove for Renault.” While Alonso failed to win another title, Sebastian Vettel won four championships in a row with Red Bull from 2010-2013, with Alonso finishing runner-up in three of those four years. Horner added that Alonso’s management returned in 2009 to ask if the Spaniard could join Red Bull despite previously turning the team down. “Halfway through ’09, I had an approach to say ‘could he join mid-season?’ because they thought he could win the championship in the car,” he said. “Then we had another conversation in the back of an Alfa Romeo at Spa airport several years later in ’11 or ’12. Again, it never really… the most serious discussion was the first one and then it missed its chance.” Alonso, at 41 years of age, is now at Aston Martin and is still chasing down Red Bull, with Max Verstappen leading the 2023 championship by 59 points to team-mate Sergio Perez. Alonso is third in the standings, 71 points behind Verstappen, ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Read More Sky suspend F1 pundits after sexist comments live on air F1 gives Canadian Grand Prix update after wildfires cause smoke to descend on Montreal On this day in 2007: Lewis Hamilton claims first Formula One victory F1 Canadian Grand Prix: When is practice on Friday in Montreal?
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