“It is hard to believe it’s been nearly nine years working with this incredible team and I’m excited we’re going to continue our partnership for two more years,” Hamilton said.
“We’ve accomplished so much together but we still have a lot to achieve, both on and off the track. I’m incredibly proud and grateful of how Mercedes has supported me in my drive to improve diversity and equality in our sport. They have held themselves accountable and made important strides in creating a more diverse team and inclusive environment.
“We’re entering a new era of car which will be challenging and exciting and I can’t wait to see what else we can achieve together.”
Toto Wolff added that Hamilton can continue with Mercedes “as long as he wants”.
“As we enter a new era of F1 from 2022 onwards, there can be no better driver to have in our team than Lewis,” Wolff said. “His achievements in this sport speak for themselves, and with his experience, speed and race-craft, he is at the peak of his powers.
“We are relishing the battle we have on our hands this year – and that’s why we also wanted to agree this contract early, so we have no distractions from the competition on track. I have always said that as long as Lewis still possesses the fire for racing, he can continue as long as he wants.”
Attention now turns to Mercedes’ second seat. Valtteri Bottas has endured his worst start to a season with the Silver Arrows so far, and the Finn is now under pressure after Mercedes junior driver George Russell’s cameo at Sakhir last year – a race the young Brit almost won.
Mercedes will want to be able to maintain the fight with Red Bull in the constructors’ championship – a fight it’s currently losing. Russell may represent a better chance of fighting Red Bull and Brackley might want to have its 2022 driver line-up complete by the summer break, with a decision thought to be possibly imminent.