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Next year must be different: 'We don't want to end up in January again'

Next year must be different: 'We don't want to end up in January again'

08-02-2021 16:47 Last update: 17:02
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GPblog.com

Mercedes let it be known that it does not want to have lengthy contract negotiations again. The new deal that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton entered into was a very long time coming, which meant that Mercedes had only contracted two drivers five weeks before the new season.

The long wait is over

For Hamilton, the timing was unfortunate. In 2020 Formula 1 had a very busy schedule due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving little time for Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff to get together. At the end of the season Hamilton himself had the coronavirus and on Monday it was announced that the two would not speak about a new contract for the first time until the week of Christmas.

"It’s always tricky to find some time, whilst racing, but we have learned the lesson that there could be external factors that can delay discussions and we don’t want to end up in January again," Wolff said in conversation with various media outlets, including Motorsportweek.com.

Things must change for 2022

Wolff confirmed that they want to pick up the talks for 2022 earlier. "We agreed jointly that we don’t want to drag it on as much or as long as we did this time around and we are going to try and find some time together during the season."

It is by no means a certainty that Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will form a driving duo again in 2022. "Our first discussions are going to be with Valtteri and Lewis in respecting our values of loyalty and integrity. But on the other side the young drivers are the future, and therefore we need to consider how we want to set ourselves up for the years beyond," Wolff concluded.