Hamilton Signs One-Year Deal With Mercedes

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has agreed to a new one-year contract with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. Financial details of the contract extension were not released by the team.

“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” Hamilton said. “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.”

Oct 19, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (44) of Great Britain during practice for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Hamilton, the reigning F1 champion, has raced for Mercedes-AMG Petronas for the last seven-seasons and has won six world championships. Last season he tied Michael Schumacher’s record for most world championships in F1 history with seven. Hamilton holds the F1 records for most career race wins (95), and pole positions (98).

The 36-year old England native started his F1 career with McLaren in 2007 and won his first F1 championship in 2008. At the time he was the youngest F1 champ. He won 21-races with McLaren and left the squad after the 2012 season to sign with Mercedes. With Mercedes he has won 74-races.

A facet of the deal will include the development of a joint charitable organization between Hamilton and the team to further push for diversity in motor sports. Hamilton is the first and only Black driver in F1 history and has been a strong supporter and champion of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue,” Hamilton said. “I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”

The 2021 F1 season is slated to start on March 28 in Bahrain. The recently knighted Hamilton is looking for his record eighth F1 world championship this season.