Mercedes had hoped to have an update on a contract extension for seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton by the time the series arrived at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite ongoing talks, Hamilton said on Thursday in Montreal he had no update on his future. He had been scheduled to meet with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who had hinted a resolution was imminent.
Hamilton, who turned 38 in January and is seeking a multi-year extension, played coy as to how talks have progressed. Asked if he and Wolff had 바카라hooked up바카라 as scheduled, the British driver tried to brush it off.
바카라We바카라ve never hooked up,바카라 Hamilton deadpanned.
The moderator then clarified to ask if the boss and driver had met for a pizza.
바카라We바카라ve never had pizza,바카라 he replied.
On the third attempt, Hamilton sort of acknowledged contract talks had happened with no deal struck.
바카라I바카라ve seen Toto, we바카라ve talked several times,바카라 said Hamilton. 바카라Yeah. Nothing else real to really add to it.바카라
It was far less information than Wolff had offered last week during a CNBC interview when asked about Hamilton바카라s future.
바카라It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks,바카라 Wolff said on the 바카라Squawk on the Street바카라 program. 바카라We have such a good relationship that we dread the moment that we need to talk about money. From a team바카라s perspective, Lewis and Mercedes have gone back a long time.
바카라We both joined the team in 2013 together, and from a professional relationship, we now have a friendship. It has been a wonderful time,바카라 Wolff continued. 바카라He is the most important personality in the sport. He is so multi-faceted, not only the racing, but also off track, so we need to keep him in the sport for as long as possible.바카라
Hamilton started his career with McLaren, which was Mercedes-powered, in 2007. He made the move to the Mercedes team in 2013 and has scored 82 of his record 103 F1 victories driving the Silver Arrows. Hamilton has won six of his seven championships with Mercedes.
He바카라s in the final year of his existing contract and has insisted he wants to extend his career and stay with Mercedes, despite persistent rumors he바카라s being courted by Ferrari. The Canadian Grand Prix had been circled as a celebratory spot to announce a contract extension because it바카라s both the site of Hamilton바카라s first career F1 victory back in 2007, and, his seven wins at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is tied with Michael Schumacher for most in F1 history.
Not having it buttoned down on that timeline did not bother Hamilton. 바카라I don바카라t really have a huge amount to say on the contract side of things,바카라 Hamilton said. 바카라It바카라ll get done when it바카라s done. If that바카라s next week, if that바카라s in a month바카라s time, as long as it gets done it doesn바카라t really bother me.바카라
Hamilton has previously denied he바카라s been approached by Ferrari.
Despite the lack of news on his contract, he remained upbeat about Mercedes바카라 recent performance, which included a surprise 2-3 podium finish for Hamilton and teammate George Russell in Spain two weeks ago.
바카라We바카라ve been making progress in the car and last race was just phenomenal, we바카라ve all been buzzing back at the factory, the whole team just has this new energy and it kind of feels like we have a North Star,바카라 Hamilton said. 바카라We know where we바카라re going, we know how to get there, so everyone바카라s just churning away and working as hard as possible.
바카라I바카라m excited coming here. We generally don바카라t know whether this track suits our car and the car바카라s characteristics but the weather may change that and we바카라ll see.바카라
Hamilton, who has not won a race since the 2021 season, noted he didn바카라t need to do a rain dance based on a forecast that is calling for wet weather all the way through Sunday바카라s race.
Red Bull enters the Canadian Grand Prix a perfect 7-0 this season and is seeking its 100th victory Sunday. For Max Verstappen, the defending race winner, a victory would be the 41st of his career and tie him with the late Ayrton Senna for fifth on F1바카라s all-time win list.
바카라Max has been doing an amazing job, he바카라s had such an incredible career so far and he바카라s for sure going to surpass that,바카라 Hamilton said. 바카라We바카라re working on (our) car so we can slow him down.바카라
