Lewis Hamilton has finally signed a new contract committing him to Mercedes for the 2021 F1 season, penning a one-year deal.
The seven-time world champion's extension was announced by the sport's all-conquering team on Monday ahead of the new Formula One campaign which gets under way in Bahrain next month. Hamilton, 36, will be bidding to win an unprecedented eighth world title.
Hamilton, who was knighted in the New Year Honours, has been in the unusual situation of being out of contract since his last £40m-a-year deal expired on the final day of December. But after several weeks of negotiations with Mercedes, the British driver's future has finally been settled, albeit with both parties agreeing to only one extra year.
"I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes team-mates," said Hamilton, who has spent much of the off-season training in America. "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."
In a statement, Mercedes said: "The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team is pleased to announce that the reigning Formula One World Constructors’ Champion and the reigning F1 World Drivers’ Champion will continue together in 2021. The Mercedes works team and Lewis agreed a new contract which will see one of the sport’s most successful ever collaborations continue for a ninth consecutive season.
"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 Lewis 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."
Additional reporting by PA
