Paris –
Briton Lewis Hamilton signed a new contract with Mercedes for this season only, leaving the door open for a retirement at the end of the year for who could become the Formula 1 driver with the most titles of all time in 2021.
The long-awaited extension of Hamilton puts the Briton on the path to an eighth world title. If he succeeds in winning the 2021 World Cup, which begins on March 28 with the Bahrain Grand Prix, he will be the sole record holder for crowns in the premier class of motor sports, leaving German Michael Schumacher behind.
Will you say afterwards I withdraw or continue? With the arrival in 2022 of new cars and a new technical regulation, which promise a small revolution and more sporting fairness, Hamilton could be tempted to continue or say enough, after reaching the summit alone.
“I am very happy to start my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” said the 36-year-old in a statement from his team. “Our team did amazing things together and we can’t wait to continue our success,” he added.
Lewis Hamilton was world champion with McLaren in 2008 and with Mercedes (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), with which he smashed all the Formula 1 records one by one: greatest number of victories (95), podiums (165) and pole positions (98).
Record of titles
The last record to be achieved remains, that of world titles, leaving Schumacher behind. A brand that seems almost a formality for Hamilton, who has dominated the discipline since his arrival at Mercedes in 2013 (74 victories).
“We have always agreed with Lewis to continue, but the unusual year we have had in 2020 has meant that we need some time to finish the process,” explained Toto Wolff, the main team and president of the team, who owns a third of its capital.
“We have decided to extend the sports relationship for another season and start a longer-term project to enter a new stage in our common commitment to greater diversity,” he explained, adding that Hamilton is a “precious ambassador for our brand and its partners. partners “.
Hamilton had no contract with the German brand since the end of 2020. Due to a season affected by the coronavirus pandemic and that ended only in mid-December, but also due to the contamination of the pilot to covid-19 at the beginning of that last month of year, the extension of his contract was delayed.
Against racism
A true star of his discipline, the first and only black F1 driver, Hamilton emerged in 2020 as a champion of the fight against racism, promoting the Black Lives Matter movement in the discipline. Before the television cameras, he has been seen with his knee on the ground before participating in the grand prix next to his car, which has become black in defense of the cause, instead of the usual platinum gray.
“I am determined to continue the path that we have begun to take to make the sport of motoring more diversified for future generations and I express my appreciation to Mercedes for having provided me with unconditional support in my fight to address this issue,” continued the pilot, announcing the launch of a “foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in sport.”
After having traveled the world in his private jet, which he later sold, the pilot from Stevenage, north London, also became an advocate of ecology, as much as his profession can afford it, selling several cars from his collection and going vegan .
On the asphalt, an eighth title seems to open his arms. If he succeeds, it remains to be seen whether he will still be hungry for the new era of F1 that opens in 2022. Or whether 2021 will mean his retirement. (D)
