Coulthard offers theory on Hamilton contract delay

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David Coulthard has offered his view on the reasons why Lewis Hamilton has not yet put pen to paper with Mercedes for 2024 and beyond.

Hamilton and Mercedes have given every indication over the past few months that they intend to continue their partnership.

The seven-time world champion has repeatedly insisted that the Brackley squad remains his surrogate family, while team boss Toto Wolff claimed earlier this month that only "trivial" aspects of the contract were holding up its finalization.

But Coulthard has suggested that those minor elements of the covenant, as characterized by Wolff, might in fact involve something more significant as far as Hamilton is concerned and key to his well-being.

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"Mercedes will want a certain amount of time from Lewis for their partners," Coulthard explained to the PA news agency.

"Mercedes will have sold sponsorship on obtaining access to their drivers. Some businesses will have signed up with the Silver Arrows because Lewis is there, rather than George Russell.

"Perhaps Lewis might be wanting to do fewer days or have fewer commitments?

"What Lewis will be signing up for goes way beyond him driving at a grand prix. It is about what rights he retains in terms of his image, and what rights he sells to the team.

"Mercedes are buying more than just Lewis’ driving services. They are buying his promotional image and his PR image."

As someone with his ear to the ground, Coulthard hasn't heard anything that suggests a "major fallout" between Mercedes and Hamilton.

"I am not aware Lewis is having a change of heart about whether he wants to go racing or not, and I don’t think Mercedes are having second doubts," said the former Grand Prix driver and Channel 4 commentator.

"I don’t think there is any realistic chance that Lewis will leave Mercedes unless there is a major fallout. And I can’t see that happening.

"Who would the major fallout be with? Even if it was with Toto, Lewis’ relationship with Mercedes’ parent company Daimler is much longer than Toto’s emergence as team principal of Mercedes."

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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.