Hamilton and Mercedes agree a new contract
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has renewed his commitment to Mercedes-AMG, signing on for the 2021 season.
It’ll be Hamilton’s ninth consecutive year racing with Mercedes-AMG; he joined in 2013, the year before Merc’s record-breaking run that has dominated the current turbo hybrid era of F1.
Mercedes says a significant part of the new agreement builds upon the joint commitment to greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport that was made last year by Hamilton and Mercedes. This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation; which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.
BREAKING: @LewisHamilton signs new @MercedesAMGF1 contract #F1 pic.twitter.com/aTYFYO3BjJ
— Formula 1 (@F1) February 8, 2021
“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” said Hamilton. “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further; while continuously looking to improve; both on and off the track.
“I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue. I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”
Hamilton will partner Valtteri Bottas, whose one-year deal extension was announced last August, for a fifth successive campaign. 2021, meanwhile, will represent Hamilton’s ninth season with Mercedes.
“We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process,” said Wolff.
“Together; we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season; to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport. Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen; he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners.
