Formula 1: Lewis Hamilton shoots down rumors as people ‘making up stories’

Lewis Hamilton shot down rumors that there are complications between himself and Mercedes as far as a Formula 1 contract extension is concerned.

Amid reports that six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were closing in on a two-year contract extension, a new report emerged stating that there could be complications between the two parties.

This report stated that Hamilton, whose contract with the Brackley-based team expires at the end of the 2020 season after it was extended by two years back in July of 2018, was seeking a long-term deal with the team and at least $60 million per year.

The 35-year-old Briton is currently the highest paid driver on the grid at roughly $57 million annually. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen have already signed long-term contract extensions through the 2024 season and the 2023 season, respectively.

But Hamilton has shot down these reports, referring to them as made-up stories, and he has stated that he and Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff have not yet even begun negotiating a new deal — which would effectively shoot down the earlier reports of a new two-year extension looming as well.

Here is what Hamilton had to say about the matter in an Instagram post that has since been deleted.

"“FYI Toto and I have not even spoken about [a] contract yet. Nothing is being negotiated currently, papers making up stories.”"

Hamilton, who has won each of the last three and five of the last six world championships, has driven for Mercedes since the 2013 season. Mercedes haven’t failed to win a driver or a constructor championship since the V6 turbo hybrid era began the following year.

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He has also been linked to a potential ride at Ferrari for next year with the contract of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel slated to end after the 2020 season, but that looks less likely now with the Italian team seemingly having committed to Leclerc as their long-term number one driver.

There is also the ongoing rumor that Mercedes won’t be back in Formula 1 as a constructor for the 2021 season once Liberty Media introduce the new rules and regulations, including a $175 million budget cap, aimed at making the sport more competitive, but they have recently hinted that they will end this rumor by committing to a long-term future in the sport.

With all things considered, it is likely that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton will agree to a contract extension for beyond the 2020 Formula 1 season at some point in the near future. But for how long will this deal be, and for how much will it be worth?