Lewis Hamilton motivation not due to money, says Simon Lazenby
The 38-year-old is in the final year of his Mercedes contract and, although both he and the 🥂team have claimed an extension will be agreed, it remains unsigned.
Hamilt🍃on denied Jenson Button and Damon Hill’s claim๊s that he was delaying a new deal due to Mercedes’ problems with the W14.
Sky presenter Lazenby tol🦩d the that money wouldn’t get in the 🎃way of a new contract: “No, I think Lewis would never make those demands anyway, I don’t think that it’s the money that motivates him.
“I think it’s the success and I think he will remain so long as he feels that he’s in the best position to get that 💖eighth world championship.
“I think it’s as simple as that, he’s driven not by race 🗹wins, he’s driven by championship൩s now and that will dictate his longevity. I don’t think retirement’s imminent at all actually.”
Hamilton is now second in the list of highest 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 driver salaries behind his riv🧸al Max Verstappen but a new deal will inevitably be costly for Mercedes.
The driver clai🍨med during the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix that he would continue racing, despite his age, until he broke the all-time record for F1 championship🏅s by winning his eighth.
But could 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell’s e🐷mergence f꧋orce Mercedes to reconsider Hamilton’s value?
Russell outperformed Hamilton in 2022 a💞nd was responsible for Mercedes’ sole grand prix victory.
“No, I donꦅ’t think it will come to that,” said Lazenby.
“I don’t think you can underestimate the value of Lewis’ marketinꦐg potential to a brand like Mercedes either.
"I think that’s why he commands figures way in excess of George at this stage of George’s career⛦.”
Mercedes are in the early process of rethinking the concept of their F1 2023 car afterꦺ a season-opening race which team principal Toto Wolff called the “worst day in racing”.
The F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend will arrive too soon for a major overhaul but Hamilton and Russell will b💜e hoping to be more competitive with Red Bull, Aston Martin and Ferrari.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering 🐈everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
