British drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have extended their contract with the Mercedes World Cup Formula 1 team for another two years, until the end of 2025, it was announced this Thursday.
Lewis Hamilton, 38, terminated his contract with the German team at the end of this season, arriving in 2013, replacing German Michael Schumacher.
It was with Mercedes that he won six of his seven world titles (a record in sports with Schumacher) (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), the first, in 2008, was won in the service of McLaren .
“Every day we dream of becoming the best. We have devoted the last decade to this goal. Being on top doesn’t happen overnight, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication. We are honored to earn our place in the history book rankings with this incredible team,” said Lewis Hamilton, quoted by the team.
George Russell was also “satisfied” to have extended his contract with the team he joined in 2022.
“[A sensação] It’s incredible. The opportunity to extend our relationship until the end of 2025 is something special,” he stressed.
Team leader Toto Wolff of Austria assured that keeping this pair of pilots “was an easy decision.”
“We have the strongest duo on the grid and both drivers play a crucial role in the team to move us forward. The strength and stability they give us will be the key to our future success,” he concluded.
The news of the Mercedes duo’s renewal comes as Brazil’s Felipe Massa is threatening to challenge Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 title in court.
The Brazilian driver, who lost that championship by just one point, believes that the score of the race in Singapore, marked by the deliberate accident of compatriot Nelson Pique Jr. (Renault), should not have been counted.
At the heart of Massa’s complaint are the recent statements by former F1 maximum leader Briton Bernie Ecclestone, who admitted he hushed things up to prevent a scandal in modality.
Without the points corresponding to the third place obtained in that race, Lewis Hamilton would not have become a champion, and the title would have gone to Massa.
In 2023, 13 races have already been played. Lewis Hamilton is fourth in the World Drivers’ Championship with 156 points and Russell is seventh with 99 points.
Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) is in the lead with a score of 339.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes is second with 255 points to 540 for the leading Red Bull.
For Mercedes, Hamilton took part in 213 races, scoring 82 wins and 78 pole positions out of 103 wins and 104 pole positions he has in his career.
Russell has already won 36 Grands Prix with the German team, with whom he won the only victory and the only pole in his career.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal

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