Hamilton Signs Three-Year Mercedes F1 Deal Worth $150m
Lewis Hamilton has ended months of speculation by signing a new three-year contract with Mercedes, reportedly securing around $50 million per season until 2018.
Lewis Hamilton has finally put an end to speculation about his future in Formula One by signing a new three-year contract with Mercedes, confirmed on 20 May 2015. The reigning world champion’s deal reportedly secures him around $50 million per season through to the end of 2018.
Negotiations over Hamilton’s contract had dragged on for several months, with public statements and media reports fuelling uncertainty about whether he might leave the team. The agreement ends any immediate prospect of a switch to a rival, including Ferrari, which had been the subject of persistent rumours during the early part of the 2015 season.
What the contract means for Mercedes and Hamilton
Hamilton’s new agreement recognises his market value as a double world champion and the leading driver at Mercedes. The team’s management described the deal as reflecting both Hamilton’s status and Mercedes’ position in Formula One. With this deal, Mercedes secures continuity in its driver line-up, while Hamilton gains a salary reportedly making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the sport.
The contract’s confirmation removes a key distraction for Mercedes as it continues to battle Ferrari and other rivals in the 2015 championship. For further context on the ongoing speculation about Hamilton’s future, see Hamilton-to-Ferrari rumours fire in Bahrain.