Actually I'm hoping Lewis screws McLaren over now as he has bailed them out of the **** so much this year. Two Jenson Buttons would of put them behind Ferrari...
with that little quote i put above, the BBC have made a whole story on it. Sure Hamilton said he wants to race for Mclaren and why wouldnt he. Even Alonso now would say he would want to race for Mclaren so thats quite a stupid thing for Martin to say. Its obviously fodder for the hamilton fans to cover up the 'large elephant of akward silence in the room' over the contract not being signed yet. There is more involved than saying yes I would like to drive for your team. there is the matter of: - Money - More time off from sponsor days - He wants to keep his trophies (something Mclaren has never let a driver do) - and I believe he wants that orange road car still.
I was kind of hoping/expecting this to be all straightened up over summer break, but it's not looking that way. I know that one of Hamilton's family members is pretty ill at the moment, so I don't know if that would hold things up. You'd think his 'people' would be able to take care of it for him though. They are certainly dragging this one out.
Its his Aunty who is in the latter stages of cancer. I'm sure that is a priority over aything but the irony is that he wasnt even in the country until he came back a few days ago to be with her so would imagine that there were no negotaitions anyway.
Looks like he is staying, and it looks like the other seat (Car 7) is going to remain the same for one last season. The more they drag it out, the more I think things are not going to change.
It does seem strange to have no news either way, but I am leaning the other way! I think it is more likely that he may sign with someone else or intends to because it is of no benefit to him to drag it out. The longer it goes on the more likely Mclaren will line up a back up and with fewer known seats available his value must be decreasing - not on his abilty but purely on supply and demand i.e. 1 driver 1 seat! I think I am just hoping that he will move so its not the same old same old next season.
No further updates and my understanding was that a decession would be made over the summer break? I'm pretty sure that is over come Friday practise!
I wonder whether ths report has something to so with Lewis deliberating - maye wanting certain insurances for the future - especially if its a long term contract. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102017 McLaren has been surrounded in recent months by speculation about its future plans - on both the engine front and in terms of sponsorship backing. On the sponsorship front, there are question marks about whether or not Vodafone will continue as title sponsor beyond its current deal, which runs until the end of 2013. If the mobile phone company elects to withdraw from F1 totally, or downscale its profile with the team, then that means McLaren will need to find a new title sponsor.
Teams like McLaren usually have companies queing up to become titile sponsors. They would have no difficulty in finding a replacement if Vodafone chose not to renew.
Would certainly get more press exposure if it formed part of a race weekend, say a Friday monring announcement. Sky would be on it 24/7!!
It's all about the money. Hamilton: "This is a business. I always wear my heart on my sleeve, but I also have to be business-minded as well." This is something that Ron Dennis hinted at a few months ago. It seems that (for now) neither side are willing to step down. Thing is, Hamilton doesn't need McLaren and McLaren don't need Hamilton. I'm pretty sure Hamilton will leave if another team offer him a more lucrative deal and McLaren probably have someone like Di Resta lined up just in case Hamilton leaves.
Just fllowig on from your comments Forza; Yet with comments from within McLaren apparently suggesting a new deal with the team that has nurtured his career since childhood, the 27-year-old added that heart does not necessarily rule over head. "I'm pretty much in a similar position that I was going into the season. There's work being done in the background now. I'm not really focusing on that now, but if the guys that are paid to do the job are discussing that and working on getting that result," he said. "My team aren't really saying much. What my team is telling me is that Martin said he didn't make those comments. "This is a business. I'll always wear my heart on my sleeve but you have to be business-minded as well." It seems far from done and doesn't seem to have made any progress over the break!
My theory is that Lewis is holding out for a throne ("Fernando has one and I want one too!") but Ron has rejected this persistently on hygiene grounds. You watch, next season a throne will be the 'must-have' garage accessory for every top driver on the grid.
If it's true that approaches to Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have been rebuffed then Lewis is out of options and Mercedes must be keeping Schumacher.
Well Red Bull is a closed door anyway, and I cant see why any front running driver would only want a 1 year deal at Ferrari - based on the Vettle rumour for 2014? So that only leaves Mercedes and Lotus and potential drives with a team that has either the funding or the pace. Maybe the Lotus isnt such a scay option anymore, they have the pace and with the budget restrictions coming into line would the bigger teams have such an advantage? Also if its about money and Mclaren are holding out for a package around the 10 million a year (sim to Jenson) then surley Lotus and Merc would pay that.
Being a Hamilton fan I was worried when it became clear that a new contract wasn't going to be agreed over the summer break. All parties are attempting to play down the lack of signatures, yet it's obvious to all something isn't right. After this weekend I'm even more worried. His reaction to getting beaten by Button wasn't what I would expect from someone who is happy and content with their current situation. During his interview reacting to the Grosjean incident he said all the right things, but his tone and body language gave the impression to me he is rather resigned to the fact yet another season isn't going to go his way. I'm sure he'll place a lot of the blame for that on the team, after the numerous issues they had in the first half of the season. I believe he's looking at Alonso's position within Ferrari rather enviously. I don't think the delay is just about money, it's about a fight for position within the team. I doubt for example Ferrari would argue with Alonso about who gets to keep drivers trophies. I'm sure Hamilton would sacrifice a bit of money to have a couple more WDC's. I have no doubt Hamilton believes he is as fast if not faster than Alonso after equalling Alonso in his rookie year in the same equipment. Given the best package and the best support (pit stops, strategy etc) he will be fighting for many World Championships to come. He wants the team to recognise they need him and he wants them to bend over backwards to keep him. I think McLaren realise that Hamilton doesn't have many (if any) potential moves he can make if he wants a car guaranteed of at least being in the fight for 2013. He might do in 2014 if Vettel moves on, but he is out of contract at the end of this season, so McLaren don't think he has any other option but to sign. Equally I'm sure Hamilton and his team are thinking there aren't exactly many World class drivers on the look out for a drive in 2013 so they have no other option. Like I say, as a Hammy and McLaren fan it's all rather worrying. I really hope both parties realise they need each other and get it all sorted. I can't imagine Hamilton in any other car. :/
Very good post. You make the point about being able to mould the team around him yet he will be unable to do this with Jenson there and it tends not to be Mclaren's policy either. For me I think he is trying to sign a 1 year deal or a longer deal with termination clause (on his terms) after 1 year so he can re look at the Ferrari, Red Bull and Merc seats. I would imagine that Mclaren are trying to protect themselves and have him on a 3-5 yeard deal with the options on their side.
