Finally, Mercedes officially confirmed that in 2021, Lewis Hamilton will continue to play for the champion team, but since this happened in just a month with a little before the beginning of the season, there were questions about what the delay was associated with no responses. Most likely, there were certain reasons that complicated the course of negotiations, and these are not only the consequences of the pandemic.
Experts The Race shared their comments on today's event.
Gary Anderson, the former Machine Designer of Formula 1: "I personally call questions that the action of the Mercedes contract with Hamilton is limited to just one year. In my opinion, it does not meet the interests of the parties.
Perhaps this team is counting on Max Ferstappen services - I have no doubt that it will look for options for 2022, if things in Red Bull will not be the best way for it.
Now Mercedes have two riders, the contracts with which will expire in a year, while in the 2022th in Formula 1 there will be a change of regulation. Of course, Valterter Bottas will do everything to just stay in the team, and when such large-scale reforms occur in the championship, it is very important to maintain continuity.
However, Finn has not yet proven that it is able to withstand anyone, even the most severe opponent at any stage of the season. He is a quick racer, but he lacks stability, and it seems that, along the championship, its results are usually reduced.
If an annual contract is a maximum, about what to Mercedes could agree with Hamilton, then, in my opinion, in the team there must come to terms with it, after which let go of Lewis and sign a long-term agreement with George Russell.
He has already demonstrated its speed, professional maturity and the ability to fight in a group of leaders. I agree, in the course of the season, Russell will allow more mistakes than Hamilton or Bottas, but if in Mercedes signed a contract with him for 2021, it would allow him to gain experience in the champion team.
Regardless when Russell gets the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of the Mercedes car, he will need time to understand how to achieve stable results in every weekend, and it is better to study in 2021, given that before radical changes in the championship It remains not much time.
It can be assumed that if a contract with Ferstappen can be signed in Mercedes, which will replace Bottas, then in 2022, the Dutchman could be a partner of Russell. Excellent will get a team! "
Mark Hughes: "Perhaps Mercedes will enter the history of formula 1 as the most successful team, but any era erects early or later. The only question is when it comes.
Maybe the contract with Hamilton, calculated only for one year - the first sign that everything goes to this?
Usually, two parties are involved in the negotiations, but in this case the formula 1 won the most, and not Lewis and not Mercedes. So fans can please, whoever they supported - personally, or this team. In all sports, the audience is most attracted to Megazvdovy, and the fact that Hamilton will remain in the championship at least one season, you can already consider a kind of victory.
In any case, it could happen in such a way that before the start of the championship Formula 1 would lose their most successful rider. And this would really be a big loss, even if ultimately led to interesting changes in the alignment of forces.
Moreover, it remains hope that we will finally witness the true struggle for the title between Hamilton and Ferstappen. Perhaps it will happen if not in 2021, then in the following, because the annual Hamilton contract does not yet mean Lewis to stay in the championship in the 2022th.
It is still at the peak of the form, so it is capable of more on a lot, and for Formula 1 in all senses will be better if it remains in the championship. "
Source: Formula 1 on F1news.ru