Site logo

Hamilton: Never any doubt about new contract

NEWS STORY
20/05/2015

Hours after concluding a new three-year deal with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton says there was never any doubt.

If nothing else, today's official confirmation finally killed off the ludicrous speculation linking the two-time champion with Kimi Raikkonen's seat at Ferrari.

Speaking to reporters in Monaco, shortly after the final i had been dotted and t crossed, Hamilton admitted that he knew the deal would be done and merely took his time in signing it.

"There was never any doubt, honestly," he said. "I was led to believe that the team wanted to continue with me and naturally with the success we've had and the relationship we have, it felt certain.

"That's why I never, ever felt like... I've got to sign on the dotted line now - kind of took my time and didn't feel like I ever had to... kind of... I wasn't being challenged elsewhere by another driver... which was a good thing."

Asked why negotiations took so long, how much money was involved - the media currently quoting all manner of numbers - and whether he has an exit option, the Briton said: "It's all confidential so I can't answer that one. What took long was that... well, we started conversations in February. I took my time. Some weeks I thought about it, some weeks I didn't. I never felt there was a particular rush.

"I had this year when I was still contracted so it wasn't a case where I was studying it every single day. I would kind of go away from it, come back to it, go away from it, come back to it and just took my time really. And it was also the first time I'd ever done it so there was a lot to learn, there was a lot to learn, there was a lot of studying to do, to really understand everything. It was great. I earned my ten percent so I felt great!"

Finally, when it was pointed out that when the new contact ends he will be 33, he smiled. "That's not too... that's pretty young still, hopefully, which I'm grateful for. So, I definitely see me continuing past that."

Check out our Wednesday gallery, here.

LATEST NEWS

more news >

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images

POST A COMMENT

or Register for a Pitpass ID to have your say

Please note that all posts are reactively moderated and must adhere to the site's posting rules and etiquette.

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Skidmarks, 20/05/2015 23:07

"Not surprised, but the time it took may be a reflection on LH not realising how big a contractactuall is and insisting on reading it himself. (I still wonder if he understands legal-speak.)"

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Share this page

X

Copyright © Pitpass 2002 - 2024. All rights reserved.

about us  |  advertise  |  contact  |  privacy & security  |  rss  |  terms