Beyond the Flag
Fansided

Formula 1: Christian Horner believes money delaying Lewis Hamilton’s deal with Mercedes

By Asher Fair

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 25: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP talks to fans in the fanzone during previews ahead of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images)
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - MAY 25: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP talks to fans in the fanzone during previews ahead of the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 25, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner believes that Lewis Hamilton’s money demands are delaying the four-time Formula 1 champion’s new contract with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport.

Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner believes that he knows the reason why four-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has not yet signed a contract to remain with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport following the conclusion of the 2018 season.

Horner believes that Hamilton’s new contract with Mercedes is being delayed as a result of his high money demands. Hamilton, 33, began driving for Mercedes in the 2013 season, his seventh season in the sport, and he signed a three-year deal worth roughly $150 million in 2015 to remain with the team for the following three seasons.

As a result, this contract is set to expire at the end of this season, and if Hamilton and Mercedes do not agree to another one in the meantime, he is set to become a free agent.

Here is what Horner had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.

"“Well, I can only imagine that a delay can only involve money. And I should think it’s such a grotesque amount of money that Toto’s talking about, it probably is what’s making his and Niki’s eyes water at the moment. So, yeah, he’s got an expensive lifestyle. He’s a four-time world champion and I doubt he’s cheap. I can only envisage that that’s probably got something to do with the delay.”"

Horner’s claims to not align with the claims of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who recently stated that the reason that Mercedes and Hamilton had not yet agreed on a new contract was simply because of the fact that they had not yet had the time to discuss it.

More from Formula One

Regardless of the reasoning for why Hamilton still does not have a new contract to remain with Mercedes in the 2019 Formula 1 season and likely beyond that, the fact remains that he will likely end up getting a new deal and driving for the team for the seventh consecutive season in 2019.

Hamilton’s total of four career Formula 1 championships is tied for third place on the all-time titles list with the championship total of Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Both drivers trail the championship totals of Michael Schumacher (seven) and Juan Manuel Fangio (five).

Hamilton’s total of 64 career Formula 1 victories ranks second on the all-time wins list behind only the win total of Schumacher (91). Hamilton has recorded a record number of poles in his Formula 1 career with 74.

Next: Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time

Will Lewis Hamilton end up signing a new contract to remain with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in the 2019 Formula 1 season and perhaps beyond that? If so, when will he sign it, and if not, will he sign with another team, or will he retire?

Home/Formula One