Lewis Hamilton motivation not due to money, says Simon Lazenby
The 38-year-old is in the final year of his Mercedes co🧔ntract and, al💜though both he and the team have claimed an extension will be agreed, it remains unsigned.
Hamilton denied Jenson Button and Damon Hill’s claims that he was delaying a new deal due to M🅰ercedes’ problems with the W14.
Sky presenter Lazenby told thไe 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 thin🌠k it’s the success and I think he will remain s﷽o 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 championships 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5最新开奖结果:F1 driver salaries behind h♑is rival Max Verstappen but a new deal w𝄹ill inevitably be costly for Mercedes.
The driver claimed during the F1 B✨ahrain Grand Prix that h🉐e would continue racing, despite his age, until he broke the all-time record for F1 championships by winning his eighth.
But could 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell’s emergence force 🍰Mercedes to reconsider✱ Hamilton’s value?
Russell outperfor♋med Hamilton in 2022 and was responsible for Mercedes’ sole grand prix victory.
“No, 𒅌I don’t think it will come to that,” said Lazenby.
“I don’t think you can underestimate♔ the value of Lewis’ marketing ไpotential to a brand like Mercedes either.
"I think that’s why he commands figures way in excess of George at this stag💃🅠e of George’s career.”
Mercedes are in ꧑the early process of rethinking the concept of their F1 2023 car afte﷽r 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 a🤪nd Russell will be hoping to be more competitive with Red Bull, Aston Martin and Ferrari🍸.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade co🌞vering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
