After what seemed like an eternity of negotiations last season to produce a one year contract for 2021, creating a contract for 2022 and onwards appeared much easier this year. Converting Zoom calls into in-person negotiations helped speed conversations between Lewis Hamilton (Seven time world champion) and Toto Wolff (Team Principal & CEO of Mercedes- AMG Petronas F1 Team). Hamilton said “Toto was fantastic within the negotiations, Ola and the board have been incredibly supportive and we just continue to grow in our relationship and how we communicate and making sure that we are aligned. It’s a great commitment from them, a great commitment from myself to continue to stay aligned with Mercedes.”

At 36 years old, and in his 15th season of Formula 1, Hamilton is still motivated to add an eighth, and maybe ninth, F1 world championship to his resume. The British driver is currently second in the drivers standings just 32 points back from rival Max Verstappen after 9 rounds.

If it doesn’t happen for Hamilton this season, the upcoming 2022 regulations could pose an opportunity or a challenge, but it’s one that Wolff believes Hamilton is looking forward to. Wolff stated about Lewis earlier Saturday, “I think he never wanted to stop competing in formula 1, but obviously you must always have options, and stopping was never an option. So it seemed pretty clear that we were continuing, but he is well informed, and well aware what is happening around the 2021 car. He knows our structure, and has the confidence in what we do, and even if it is difficult like for example, today (Saturday) there's still the faith in each other going forward.”

At the beginning of the season some questioned if Hamilton’s late contract signing would have disrupted the team, and applied unwanted pressure to not only the Mercedes driver, but the team as well. Hamilton however, doesn’t see pressure as a bad thing, but one that he embraces. He enthused that “it doesn’t change the pressure for me, I always bet on myself.” He continued, “when I do these one year deals it’s not like ‘oh what if I don’t perform?’ I know I am going to perform because I know how to do that. I know the work that I need to do in order to be able to perform. I think for the longevity of the team, the confidence, the sponsors, all those things, it’s super important that these things get done as quick as they can.”

Hamilton has raced with Mercedes engines at McLaren until moving over to the works team in 2013. It’s a relationship that has gone on for 15 seasons and counting in Formula 1. Hamilton not only appreciates that relationship and all they have accomplished, but what they can achieve both on and off track specifically with the drive to improve diversity and equality within the sport.

The seven time world champion expanded on how “it’s exciting to see what Mercedes are doing, the support they have given me during this period with Black Lives Matter, with turning our car black for the second year in a row, for really pushing for a more diverse and inclusive environment. It’s amazing to think, the conversations we’ve had, it’s an amazing new part to a journey that we have started. For sure several years ago, I could have only dreamed of being in this position, and I’m excited for what that can be.”

Before the deal, there had been rumblings that Hamilton could possibly retire at some point, but with this new two year contract, it has solidified Hamiltons’ commitment. By the time the deal comes to an end, he will be 38 years old. It’s not age that the reigning world champion is concerned about, it’s desire. He thoughtfully elaborated that “there’s gonna be a point in which I’m gonna want to move on to do different things, and I guess it’s just always comes down to how I never do anything half ass. I am not going to do it at 80 percent, 70 percent, and just trundle along, there are people that can do that. I am only here to win, so if there is ever a point that I feel that I don’t want to commit the time or the effort, the mental time and energy that it takes then that will be the time for me to stop. But, as I said I don’t plan to be here till I am 40. I hope I have something else exciting to do beyond, but regardless, no matter what time you stop, I’m gonna miss this sport, I am gonna miss the competing side of it for sure."