Mercedes: "There is no clause, driver selection is team matter"

With the recent announcement of Lewis Hamilton's contract extension at Mercedes, the British driver is guaranteed a seat at the Silver Arrows in 2021. Despite this, much is still unclear about the exact content of the contract.

The Mercedes F1 official Twitter account is working overtime to address the many rumours that have circulated regarding Hamilton's role within Mercedes. For example, there was wild speculation about a so-called Verstappen clause that Hamilton would have asked for and that should prevent Max Verstappen from becoming Hamilton's teammate at Mercedes.

The team's Twitter page has since responded firmly to such rumours. It is clearly stated by the team that there is no Verstappen clause in the brand new contract with Hamilton: "There is no clause. Driver selection is a team matter."

There is no clause. Driver selection is a team matter.

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 8, 2021

The existence of the Verstappen clause was part of a larger series of rumours and speculation about the exact agreements between Toto Wolff and Mercedes. Likewise, it was speculated that Hamilton wanted a share of Mercedes' TV profits sent his way. Earlier Toto Wolff called these rumours "nonsense."