Rumor: Hamilton, worried about Verstappen destroying his records, will sign new 5-year deal (Update)

Toto Wolff says a Mercedes contract extension for Lewis Hamilton “is going to happen” and that Hamilton thinks he can continue for at least another five years in Formula 1.

In an interview for Channel 4 F1 with David Coulthard, released on Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel on the day of the Singapore GP, Wolff suggested a contract extension for Hamilton was simply a matter of time.

“The advantage is we speak a lot together [both live near each other in Monaco]. Just last week we sat down and he says ‘look, I have another five years in me, how do you see that?’” Wolff said.

“Over time we have just grown together. We are totally transparent with each other. Lewis will be the first one to say ‘I can’t do this anymore’ – because I feel I haven’t got the reactions anymore, or I’ve just lost fun doing it and there is another generation growing up that is just very strong.

“Lewis will be the first one to say ‘I can’t do this anymore because I feel I haven’t got the reactions anymore. Or ‘I’ve just lost fun doing it and there is another generation growing up that is just very strong.’

“So I have no doubt that whatever we agree on a contract extension – which is going to happen – that we both are always going to discuss, very openly, what does the future hold.”

“So I have no doubt that whatever we agree on a contract extension, which is going to happen, that we both are always going to discuss, very openly, what does the future hold.”

Wolff described Hamilton as F1’s “shining star” and the “greatest personality that Formula 1 ever had”. He also suggested Fernando Alonso racing competitively in F1 well into his 40s could perhaps act as an example for Hamilton to follow in terms of longevity.

“I don’t know if 40 is that age where you say that is not adequate anymore for a racing driver,” Wolff added.

“If you look at where Fernando is with 41 years, he’s still very much there. Now, is he the same Fernando that he was at 25? I don’t know, but he’s very competitive still.

“You look at Tom Brady [NFL star] who is somebody I really admire for having the discipline in how he manages his life and his sport, he’s 43 or 44 – and he’s on the pitch.

“So Lewis, with the way he leads his life, with the full, ultra-narrow focus on his Formula 1 racing – all the others are just hobbies – I think he can take it quite far.”

Hamilton vs Verstappen Cumulative Win Record by Age

Lewis Hamilton looks set to prove Martin Brundle and Ted Kravitz wrong after the pair both predicted the seven-time champion could quit F1. The pundits thought Hamilton was likely to walk away if he was not competitive at Mercedes, but the Briton has since hinted he may be ready to sign a contract extension with Mercedes.

He even said “I plan to be with Mercedes forever,” meaning he will race until an old age and until they kick him out.

Brundle suggested that if Hamilton was unable to fight for the title he may have stopped enjoying the sport and been enticed to walk away. Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Brundle said: “As long as he’s still enjoying the bits around F1 or he can tolerate those bits around F1 and balance it out with just loving driving the car, [he’ll stay].

“[But] if he goes through the whole year and Mercedes are third fastest and others are catching them up, then I suspect he’ll take a different view and my enjoyment analogy will play out in that he won’t be enjoying it anymore.” Meanwhile, Kravitz claimed Hamilton was “thinking about the future” after struggling at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

However, Max Verstappen is on pace to destroy all of Hamilton’s F1 records, and he is so worried about it, he will continue to race on in the hope of adding to his win tally, thereby making it harder for Verstappen to break his records.

Hamilton vs Verstappen Cumulative Win Record by Age