Hamilton: Not the right time to negotiate new 'big' contract

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Lewis Hamilton feels the time is not yet right for him to negotiate "a big contract" with employer Mercedes while so much hardship is impacting the world.

Mercedes confirmed yesterday Valtteri Bottas' presence in the team for 2021 and Hamilton is expected to also extend his contract with the championship winning squad.

But the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic and its current global impact on life is a preoccupation that Hamilton would like to set aside before sitting down with team boss Toto Wolff and sealing his F1 future.

Mercedes officially extends Bottas' contract for 2021

"Honestly it doesn’t feel like the right time to sit down," Hamilton said ahead of this weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix.

"When you think about so many people in the world who have lost their jobs, people are unemployed… To then sit and negotiate a big contract, it just doesn’t seem like the most important thing that I need to apply time to right this second."

Hamilton, whose is rumored to be paid an annual $45 million by Mercedes, made clear that he was looking forward to achieving more success with the Black Arrows outfit.

"The fact is that I do want to continue with this team and it’s not a big effort for us to sit down and get it done. It’s just right now I don’t feel comfortable with it and I want to wait a little bit longer.

"I’m not talking to anybody else, I’m looking forward to continuing a new chapter with the team in terms of how we educate ourselves and what we are going to do to help be more diverse and inclusive moving forwards.

"So I’m super excited for what is possible to do with Mercedes-Benz and this team moving forwards. At some stage it will get done, I’m not stressed."

On the subject of Bottas' contract renewal, Hamilton underscored the importance of consistency regarding the team's driver line-up and the Finn's contribution to Mercedes' success.

"I think consistency is always a good thing for a team and Valtteri has always had a positive influence on the team over these five years," he said.

"He’s trustworthy and does an incredible job on the track. He’s a great teammate to all the people in the team, so I think it’s a tribute to all the hard work he has done."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.