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BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN – Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Lewis Hamilton has finally sorted out his future, putting an end to all the speculation. Putting pen to paper on a one-year deal, the Mercedes superstar can now focus on attaining more success in the upcoming campaign.
The feeling between Hamilton and Mercedes has always been mutual, and hence both parties were extremely satisfied with the decision. Then again, the same questions will start to emerge once more at the end of this year.
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So will Hamilton continue to stay at Mercedes, move elsewhere, or retire from F1 altogether? Team principal Toto Wolff believes that the only person who can decide that is Hamilton itself.
Lewis Hamilton is ‘very capable’ of going longer, said Wolff
Speaking in an interview, Wolff stated, “I think this is very much Lewis’ decision. As long as he enjoys racing, I think he is very capable of going longer.”
“He develops as a driver, he looks after himself in terms of physical training and mental preparation, so I don’t think that, in terms of ability, that ends in 2021. But in the end, it is his decision.”
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ISTANBUL, TURKEY – NOVEMBER 15: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates winning a 7th F1 World Drivers Championship with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Turkey at Intercity Istanbul Park in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
The one-year extension represents the third contract Hamilton has signed since penning deals back in 2015 and 2018. However, times have changed, and so he has to take the call of whether he wants to continue in F1 beyond 2021.
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“It’s the third contract that we were discussing so it’s not that we needed to start from scratch. But it’s an important contract because of the season and long term how we are going to position ourselves from 2022 onwards, and how is his thinking,” concluded Wolff.
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SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes W11 on track during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Styria at Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Sweeping home the past seven titles on offer, Hamilton has been in rampant form for some time now. With the way things are progressing, it is hard to see anyone else lift that Drivers’ Championship this year.
So even if this season were to be his last in F1, Hamilton would bow out as one of the greatest. Regardless of anything else, a driver who has charmed fans all these years will continue sprinkling his magic in 2021.
