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Lewis Hamilton has signed a brand new two-year deal to race for Mercedes in Components 1, with George Russell additionally set to remain as his team-mate by means of to the tip of the 2025 season.
Hamilton‘s contract with the staff the place he has raced since 2013 was set to expire on the finish of this 12 months, however he has lengthy been anticipated to finish an extension.
Russell is known to have already been contracted to race with Mercedes till the tip of the 2024 marketing campaign as a part of the long-term deal he signed to hitch the staff again in 2021, however the announcement made on Thursday on the 2023 Italian Grand Prix extends that deal for an extra season.
“We dream on daily basis of being the very best and we now have devoted the previous decade collectively to reaching that purpose,” stated Hamilton.
“Being on the high doesn’t occur in a single day or over a brief time period, it takes dedication, exhausting work and dedication and it has been an honour to earn our method into the historical past books with this unimaginable staff.
“We’ve got by no means been hungrier to win. We’ve got learnt from each success but additionally each setback.
“We proceed to chase our goals, we proceed to struggle regardless of the problem and we’ll win once more. I am grateful to the staff who’ve supported me each on and off the observe.
“Our story is not completed, we’re decided to attain extra collectively and we can’t cease till we do.”
Russell stated: “I’ve grown up with this staff ever since becoming a member of as a part of the junior programme again in 2017.
“It is my dwelling and it feels improbable to increase our particular relationship by means of 2025.
“After stepping as much as the Mercedes race seat final 12 months, I needed to reward the belief and perception that Toto [Wolff, team principal] and the remainder of the staff positioned in me.”
Hamilton’s contract extension had been within the work for a very long time in 2023, however hypothesis about when it might lastly be introduced or if a shock swap to a different squad – such because the rumours that Ferrari was contemplating making him a suggestion forward of this 12 months’s Monaco GP – might be within the works had began to construct.
This had elevated after Toto Wolff’s assertion at a convention in New York forward of the Canadian GP that Hamilton’s new deal can be introduced in “days” failed to come back to fruition, however staff insiders at all times maintained the delay was purely as a result of typical contract authorized wrangling.
“Persevering with with our present driver line-up was a simple resolution,” stated Wolff.
“We’ve got the strongest pairing on the grid and each drivers are enjoying a vital position within the staff to maneuver us ahead.
“The energy and stability they supply might be key constructing blocks for our future success.
“Our partnership with Lewis is without doubt one of the most profitable within the sport’s historical past.
“It was at all times a formality that we’d proceed collectively – and it is energising for us all to be confirming that publicly.
“His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his exceptional observe report; however over our years collectively, he has grown to turn out to be a pillar and chief of our staff.
“These management qualities are essential as we concentrate on combating for world championships once more.
“As F1’s largest world star, he has additionally performed a key position in shaping our commitments to range, inclusion and sustainability, that might be foundations for our success within the years forward.
“George is a number one gentle of his era. He has repaid the religion we confirmed in him when selling him to a race seat in 2022.
“His maiden pole place in Hungary and first Grand Prix victory in Sao Paulo have been standout moments final season.
“As a driver, he combines razor-sharp velocity with the tenacity of a real fighter. However he brings, too, an intelligence and a spotlight to element that can assist him to proceed to develop, develop and enhance additional.
“He’s a pure match to the staff and we’re delighted to have prolonged the connection for the approaching years.”
This announcement means Hamilton and Russell might be paired as Mercedes team-mates for at the least 4 seasons after the latter changed Valtteri Bottas in 2022.
It additionally ends any formal hope of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc becoming a member of Mercedes when his present cope with the Scuderia expires on the finish of 2024.
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