How Hamilton's one-year deal opens up the 2022 driver market
Lewis Hamilton's long-anticipated new Mercedes deal has one standout feature: it is so far only for one year. Although Hamilton may stay with the team longer, Mercedes having no drivers contracted for 2022 should inject further intrigue into silly season...
While the saga surrounding Lewis Hamilton's new Mercedes Formula 1 contract may have dragged out, there was little doubt he would put pen to paper on a new deal.
Yet while Monday's announcement had been expected, there was a surprising element of the contract extension: it would be for just one year, covering the 2021 season only.
Share Or Save This Story
Luke Smith is Autosport’s Formula 1 reporter. Luke has been working in F1 as a journalist since 2013, initially alongside a History degree at University College London. Luke served as the lead F1 writer at American broadcaster NBC Sports from 2013-17 before spending two years as the F1 Editor for Crash.net. Luke joined Autosport for the 2020 season.
Luke is also a contributor to The New York Times for its F1 special reports, and has previously worked with Al Jazeera and CNBC, as well as hosting FIA press conferences. Outside of F1, Luke is a fan of sports and music, with an ever-growing vinyl collection, and has being bitten by the running bug in recent years. He also runs a surprisingly popular blog reviewing the often-terrible media centre coffee from his F1 travels.
More from Luke Smith
Has Alonso made the right choice gambling on Aston Martin F1?
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
How ‘demanding’ Alonso has started life with Aston Martin
Ocon got "very sick" in F1 off-season due to bad lung virus
Brown: No reason not to expand F1 grid if new teams pay "fair" fee
Hamilton: Nothing will stop me speaking up on important issues in F1
Mercedes and Hamilton had "first chat" over new F1 contract
Mercedes returns to black livery as team launches W14 F1 car
Latest news
Kenya president pushing for longer WRC Safari Rally
The good, bad, and ugly of IndyCar's half-baked exhibition race
How WRC Rally1 teams embraced the return of the snorkel
Vasseur: More consistent car means Ferrari F1 drivers no longer in "survival mode"
Autosport Plus
The lucrative deal that points to F1 Academy’s rude health
Why Mercedes, Red Bull and Aston Martin should all be trying to sign Sainz for 2025
Why Sargeant was merely collateral in F1's fierce fight for sixth
Australian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2024
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.