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Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes make crucial Max Verstappen breakthrough in contract talks

Andries van der WaltComments Off on Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes make crucial Max Verstappen breakthrough in contract talks

By ANDREW DOWDESWELL

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have reportedly agreed on a Max Verstappen clause as they continue to negotiate a new contract.

With a curious Max Verstappen clause having been introduced and accepted, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are reportedly nearing an agreement over a new contract as the 2021 season draws ever nearer.
Image credit: newsweek
The Brit’s deal expired at the end of last season and he is yet to extend his stay with the team.
Contract negotiations have been ongoing throughout the offseason. Now that they have dragged into February, it is a full-blown saga and the details of the discussions are slowly coming to light.

One such detail is a curious clause which has been labelled the ‘Max Verstappen Clause’ which will allow Hamilton to pick his team-mates.

Hamilton has been at Mercedes for seven years and had two team-mates during that span, Nico Rosberg, with whom he frequently argued with, especially during Rosberg’s final world championship year in 2016, and now Valtteri Bottas, who signed a one-year deal midway through last season to extend his stay with Mercedes through the 2021 season.

The deal includes a £40million salary, which is what he was paid previously, but also includes two personal sponsorship placings on his helmet and overall.

It had previously been reported that Hamilton wanted a cut of Mercedes’ TV rights, which was a sticking point in the contract negotiations. However, it has now been reported that Hamilton has asked for a veto clause related to who his team-mate will be beyond the 2021 season.

The clause, which relates to Verstappen, allows the Brit to essentially select who his team-mate is. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is a huge admirer of Verstappen, and the young Dutchman has been linked with a move to Mercedes to succeed or partner Hamilton.

Hamilton, though, is said not to be Verstappen’s greatest fan and does not want the Red Bull star to join him.

It remains to be seen how this would impact Bottas, but Hamilton has spoken glowingly about the Finn.

Late in the 2020 season, he said: “When I talk about people need to give Valtteri his due respect, I think you’ve got to remember who he’s driving up against; it’s not easy being my team-mate, you know?

“But he comes in, weekend in weekend out, with the same mentality, he’s never moaning, complaining that something’s wrong with the car, it’s always ‘I’ve got to do a better job’, and I don’t know any driver that does that.

“I think that’s something we share in common: We come into this weekend with a fresh head, and I think mentally, he’s one of the strongest drivers here.

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas

Lewis Hamilton has a ‘Max Verstappen Clause’ in his contract, which could impact Valtteri Bottas. (Image: GETTY)
  • “I think Valtteri is getting stronger and stronger each year. Every year you can see him just grafting away and chipping away at trying to raise the bar in so many different areas.

“And you’ve seen this year, I think, whilst the points gap now is where it is, if you look at a lot of qualifying, it was the smallest of margins.

“So closing the gap in qualifying he has done already, which has made it quite challenging.

“And naturally you can see the consistency I’ve had this year is what’s made the difference but if you look on the weekends it was so close.”

Hamilton, then, is seemingly set to return to Mercedes and Formula One, and all because the Silver Arrows are willing to agree to a ‘Max Verstappen Clause’.

Source: express.co.uk