Another Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend, another assurance that a new contract for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes is "as good as done".
It is well-documented by now the world champion is in the final year of his current deal with the German manufacturer and it is also well reported that the talks over an extension have dragged longer than expected.
However, the latest claim by Germany's Sport Bild is the 33-year-old will now sign a three-year deal, one more than previously thought, worth a staggering $60 million each season.
Though he wouldn't confirm any details, motorsport boss Toto Wolff insisted the confirmation was close saying: "It is as good as done.
"We are absolutely on the same wavelength but a contract like this is over 100 pages with a corresponding number of points to address and all that has to be done first."
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has thrown a new angle into the equation though, believing the new contract has been delayed by Hamilton discovering a Mercedes plot.
“Toto tried to get Vettel and Max, but both declined him,” the Austrian also told Sport Bild. “Of course, Lewis heard about this so he put up his price.”
Also Read:
- Vettel brushed off Hamilton's post-qualifying "joke" in Australia
- Hamilton hits back at Rosberg criticism
- Hamilton & Mercedes "committed" to future yet new deal remains unsigned
That price is worth paying though, in the mind of former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger, who sees Hamilton as the only man keeping the Brackley-based team on top.
"Without Lewis, Mercedes would be only third behind Ferrari and Red Bull," he claimed. "Hamilton is the fastest driver on the grid. He can make the difference. So Mercedes has to do everything to secure him."
