The team announced on Saturday that the contract between Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes has been extended to 2023. Since joining the team in 2013, the 36-year-old Hamilton has won 6 of his 7 F1 championship titles. The Englishman is a prominent supporter of racism and kneels on the Black Lives Matter jersey before each game. Last season. Hamilton said in a statement: “It is hard to believe that we have worked with this incredible team for nearly nine years, and I am very happy that we will continue to work together for more than two years.”
“We’ve accomplished so much together but we still have a lot to achieve, both on and off the track. I’m incredibly proud and grateful of how Mercedes has supported me in my drive to improve diversity and equality in our sport.
“They have held themselves accountable and made important strides in creating a more diverse team and inclusive environment.”
Hamilton has won three of this season’s eight races so far but trails championship leader Max Verstappen by 18 points.
On Friday he outpaced Red Bull’s Verstappen in practice for this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
“His achievements in this sport speak for themselves, and with his experience, speed and race-craft, he is at the peak of his powers,” Mercedes team principal and chief executive Toto Wolff said.
“We are relishing the battle we have on our hands this year — and that’s why we also wanted to agree this contract early, so we have no distractions from the competition on track.
“I have always said that as long as Lewis still possesses the fire for racing, he can continue as long as he wants.”