Hamilton nears $110m five-year McLaren deal
"We are proud of this team. Our partnership stands on a very good and firm foundation," Anthony Hamilton said in the paddock of the Fuji Speedway.
"I am not going to say anything; not even if there was anything to say," he added.
It is interesting that the speculation of an amended, $110m contract through to 2012 has coincided with 22-year-old Hamilton's most outspoken comments of his maiden season in the sport.
After openly questioning the loyalty of teammate Fernando Alonso on Thursday, Hamilton left no doubt about whether or not he had been silenced overnight by his superiors when again surrounded by reporters on Friday afternoon.
Referring to his Woking based colleagues, and Alonso's recent on-track moves and behavior surrounding the spy saga, he said: "They've bent over backwards to make him feel comfortable.
"We've done that and then you saw what he did."
McLaren has stressed the importance of equality throughout the season, but 26-year-old Alonso must now be aware that any support from the occupant of the sister silver car has vanished.
"Winning a world championship is a job that is done by everybody, from the first to the last mechanic, not only here in the track but also in the factory," the Spaniard told reporters on Friday.
09/28/07 (GMM) Norbert Haug has refused to confirm reports that Lewis Hamilton has been offered a $110 million contract to stay at McLaren until the end of 2012.
"That is only speculation," Mercedes-Benz's competition director was quoted on Friday as telling the news agency 'sid' at Fuji.
Championship leader Hamilton's father Anthony also denied the story in Japan on Friday, confirming only that his son was already contracted for 2008 to the Woking based team.
Haug added: "Lewis is bound for the longer term, so there is no doubt whether he drives also next year for us."
09/27/07 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of signing a (US) $110 million deal to stay on at the McLaren team until the end of 2012.
The German newspaper Bild claims the contract, representing a mammoth pay-rise over his debut salary, is worth $17m every year plus – oddly for a McLaren contract – the ability for his father Anthony to negotiate separate marketing arrangements.
Mercedes-Benz's Norbert Haug confirmed: "We would like to cooperate with Lewis on a long-term basis. He is a great person and a great driver."
Hamilton's father said they are yet to sign the deal.
"Not yet," he said, then referring to the upcoming FIA inspections at Woking. "There are still things to go through, such as whether the team is definitely in formula one."
The news coincides with Hamilton telling reporters in the McLaren motor home that he has earned more respect from the team than his championship rival Fernando Alonso.
"And since what's gone on in the last few weeks they've realized who the real people are in the team and who they really should back," the Briton, 22, added.
"We arrived at Spa and he is sitting there laughing and joking. I don't understand it."
Hamilton confirmed suspicions that his relationship with the Spaniard is almost non-existent.
"He is not the person I imagined him to be," he said.