McLaren plays its trump card to retain Hamilton
Wishing for a drastic reduction in their protégé's salary, McLaren is said to have reconsidered the initial offer made to Lewis Hamilton for an extension of the Briton's contract, who is simultaneously being courted by Mercedes.
Drained by the questions surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s future, the transfer market may soon be relieved of the German-British saga, which, according to Kevin Eason, correspondent for the *Times*, is expected to conclude in the very near future, with an announcement possibly being made in this regard. However, this information should be taken with utmost caution, as this matter has not accustomed observers and fans to the realization of expectations.
The British journalist also reports the comments of an anonymous observer, tinged with irony: « For a guy who’s so fast in a Formula 1, he takes his time making a decision. » Above all, the Times reveals that McLaren has reportedly offered an increase in the offer made to Lewis Hamilton with a view to extending his contract, raising it from 12.5 million euros to 15 million per year – though still not matching the current salary of 19 million received by the Stevenage native, nor the supposed 25 million euros that Mercedes would be willing to shell out to entice him. A last-minute offer that could potentially increase the uncertainty over the outcome of this case.
When asked about the possibility of a quick announcement following a lengthy summer saga, Martin Whitmarsh remains optimistic: “We will see what we can do. I think we make a good team together.” Very assertive about L. Hamilton’s future a few weeks ago, Bernie Ecclestone recently moderated his remarks, stating notably: “I don’t think Hamilton knows what he is going to do. In these last two or three races, he has been in great form. Before that, I don’t know why he was upset, but he was definitely set on changing teams, no matter what. He had made his decision. I don’t know if he has slightly changed his mind now.”
On its side, the British newspaper The Telegraph claims that a particularly influential man in the world of Formula 1 would have participated in the negotiations between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, a certain Niki Lauda. The Austrian triple champion, now a consultant for German television on Grand Prix races, might even take on an important role within Mercedes if the arrival of the 2008 world champion became a reality. Case still to follow then…
