Lewis Hamilton, the career leader in Formula One victories, is staying with his longtime team for the foreseeable future.
Hamilton has signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes which ties him to the team through the 2025 season, the team announced Thursday. The 38-year-old driver is currently in his 11th season with Mercedes.
Hamilton is a veritable rock star on the F1 circuit. His 103 career wins and 104 pole positions are the most in F1 history. He is tied with Michael Schumacher for the most all-time championships with seven. With the Mercedes team, Hamilton has registered 82 victories and 78 poles. He has contributed to eight constructors championships for Mercedes.
Mercedes also has extended its deal with driver George Russell through 2025. Russell joined the Mercedes junior program at age 18 in 2017 and was promoted to the F1 circuit in ’22. He enjoyed his first career F1 victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix last year.
“We dream everyday of being the best, and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal,” Hamilton said in a statement. “Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team. … We have never been hungrier to win.”
Mercedes principal Toto Wolff emphasized continuity when addressing the extensions of Hamilton and Russell.
“Continuing with our current driver line-up was a straightforward decision,” Wolff said in a statement. “We have the strongest pairing on the grid and both drivers are playing a crucial role in the team to move us forward. The strength and stability they provide will be key building blocks for our future success.”
