Lewis Hamilton has confirmed his new contract with Mercedes that will keep him with the team for a further two seasons.
Lewis Hamilton has signed a new deal with Mercedes (Image: Getty)
Fernando Alonso has claimed that if he was a team principal on the grid, he would opt to sign Lewis Hamilton ahead of a talented prospect from F2 until the Briton stops showcasing the pace and talent that he currently possesses.
Hamilton’s long-term F1 future has been a contentious topic so far this season with the legendary British driver linked with a move to Mercedes’ frontrunning rivals Ferrari for the 2024 campaign and beyond.
However, Hamilton has remained loyal to the Mercedes project with the team confirming his new deal ahead of the Italian Grand Prix this weekend. The 38-year-old will stay with the Silver Arrows for a minimum of another two seasons, while team-mate George Russell has also renewed his deal until 2025.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo about Hamilton’s F1 future, Alonso stated: “If I was team boss now and I had to choose Hamilton or the youngest driver on the grid or an up-and-coming driver in F2, I’d stick with Hamilton until I’m 80 years old, because until someone shows me that he’s faster than Hamilton.
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“So far, nobody has shown me that age is a problem and you see demotivation or you see that you are no longer 100% of your performance or your focus and your worries are other than F1, something that can happen with age, and because of the travelling and the life we have.
“But if, in Hamilton’s case, he is still performing at 100% and his only life and concern is F1, as may be my case too, when someone faster comes along, we talk, but at the moment Hamilton is faster than anyone else.”
Alonso and Hamilton shared an intense rivalry during their time as McLaren team-mates in 2007, with the British driver showcasing his talent and launching a title bid in his rookie season.
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Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are battling for P3 in the standings (Image: Getty)
Over 15 years later, the pair are still battling it out at the front end of Grands Prix. Alonso and Hamilton currently occupy P3 and P4 in the Drivers’ Championship standings and have been, outside of points leader Max Verstappen, the two most impressive drivers in the field this season.
Alonso also addressed this in his interview, suggesting: “As I say, as long as you’re motivated and you’re willing, speed is what counts. And even if we are older or older, we are still fast and that’s what the teams want.”
