The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team has today announced that the reigning Formula One World Drivers’ Champion will continue to race for the silver arrows in 2021.
The Mercedes team and Lewis came to an agreement on a new contract which will see one of the sport’s most successful drivers fight for his eighth title for a ninth consecutive season with Mercedes.
Among the main aspects of the new contract with Hamilton is the joint commitment to working towards greater diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
According to a press release issued by the team, this will take the form of a joint charitable foundation, which will have the mission of supporting greater diversity and inclusion in all its forms in motorsport.
Lewis made his F1 debut with Mercedes F1 engine customer team McLaren in 2007 and has been powered in all his 266 Grands Prix by Mercedes-Benz engines.
He joined the Mercedes works team in 2013 and has since won 74 F1 races as well as six Drivers’ Championships with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
In 2020, he broke Michael Schumacher’s win record and now holds the all-time race win record in Formula One.
Speaking about today’s announcement. Lewis Hamilton said;
“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal added:
“We have always been aligned with Lewis that we would continue, but the very unusual year we had in 2020 meant it took some time to finish the process.
“Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport.
“Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners.
“The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”
