Damn...organic wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 14:37Sainz contract to end of '24 so Lewis signed a 1+1 but no intention to fulfill the 2nd year option.. just merc didnt know that. If Lewis told Merc he wanted only 1yr extension because he's off in a year then Merc wouldn't be very inclined to give Lewis a £50m contract for 2024 to be honestBill_Kar wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 14:33If that’s true, why wait for 2025 ?organic wrote: ↑02 Feb 2024, 14:23Motorsport-total report that the deal was struck in April/may via handshake. We heard about Lewis meeting with Elkann at Monaco GP weekend at the time but it was brushed off as the usual contract negotiation tactics (look for competitive offers elsewhere as a bargaining chip)
Apparently it was all signed on paper in August.
I believe Lewis and his management decided 31st Jan because that was date he'd see Toto Wolff in person before the season starts.
https://www.motorsport-total.com/formel ... s-24020110
Toto was playing checkers, Ferrari and Hamilton were playing chess
Truly taken to school if true.