Quote:
Originally Posted by axmea?
So, LH must be kicking himself in the arse for waiting too long to get into contract negotiations, for getting Covid-19, thus allowing George Russell to show MB "you can have me at a much cheaper price". Although Toto and Ineos are fine with what LH' wants, the scale has tipped towards MB' side, questioning if they really want LH that bad.
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Really depends on what the team wants to do beyond 2021.
Put a package together for the new rules, sell the team and become an engine supplier? Then give Lewis a 1 year deal. Prospective buyers would have to look long and hard at a $60million obligation to a single driver. Also, with salary caps affecting drivers in future, it may hamstring them in terms of a second driver (Bottas is on a one-year and won't likely be renewed), or other talent.
Continue in the sport through 2022 and beyond? Then sure, sign him for a longer term. It's only money. And a multi-year deal should be cheaper annually than a one-year. Just mind the cap as they will want to buy out Russell for Bottas' seat next year, and his price tag has suddenly gone up a LOT!
No question, Lewis is in as good a position now, to bargain for a lucrative multi-year contract, as he will ever be. To be this strong for 2022 means a lot of hard work to win another title first! One has to assume that his goal is to make the most money he possibly can (not the rubbish about his wanting to go on to something different, or help a struggling team out, or plant roses in his garden for a year before his Second Coming (a-la Alonso).
Honestly, if I were MB, I'd wish Lewis well, pay to break Russell's contract and reward him handsomely, and be prepared to do the same thing to Leclerc if Ferrari screws the 2022 car up and he wants out of the remaining 2 years of his current deal.
Lewis has a great car that perfectly suits his tremendous abilities right now. They're probably unstoppable in 2021. All bets are off, as to who will win in the 2022 era.