Fresh talks between Hamilton and McLaren fail resolve future
BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton has postponed a decision on a new contract until beyond this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, despite fresh talks with McLaren over his future.
The 2008 Formula One world champion, 27, is believed to be weighing up final offers from the Woking outfit, who signed him as a 13-year-old, and Mercedes.
Hamilton, who has reignited his title hopes with two wins from his last three races, concludes his current £15m-a-year contract at the end of this season.
Mercedes are said to want Hamilton to replace veteran Michael Schumacher, although their other driver Nico Rosberg hopes the German prolongs his stellar career. “I think it would be right if he stays,” said Rosberg. “We get along well, competition between us is good.”
McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe, meanwhile, insists the team are planning for an unchanged line-up next year. He said: “It is our assumption that they are the drivers who we will be fielding next year.”