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BUDAPEST, Hungary - Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton is angling for a pay rise from the Mercedes team, a major German newspaper has claimed... remember, now, it's the Silly Season in the European news media.
The big 'silly season' rumour over the 2014 Hungarian GP weekend (July 27) was about Hamilton's silver-coloured seat beyond the end of his 2015 contract worth the equivalent of R252-million.
The news followed hot on the heels of Nico Rosberg's extended Mercedes deal, reportedly featuring a big pay-rise making his new three-year contract worth €55-million, the equivalent of R776-million.
PLAYING 'CONTRACT POKER'
On Monday (July 28), Bild-Zeitung reports that Hamilton and his management are pushing for a new €90-million deal, the equivalent of about R1.2-billion, to cover 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The 'contract poker' could explain the true source of the speculation linking Mercedes with Red Bull's champion driver Sebastian Vettel after that was first leaked by Helmut Marko but team boss Christian Horner smiled in Hungary that Marko sat down for "breakfast, lunch and dinner" on every day of a GP weekend with fellow Austrian Niki Lauda.
Lauda doubles as Mercedes' non-exec team chairman.
However Marko told German TV Sky after the 2014 Hungarian GP that he saw nothing wrong with the rumours that float around F1's best and highly-paid drivers at contract time.
He would not comment on whether Mercedes has actually made an approach to Vettel: "At this time of the year it's a completely normal process. You would have to ask him."
LEWIS WORTH MILLIONS
Forbes magazine reported Hamilton earned the equivalent of R304-million by June 2014 and a further R31-million in endorsements by the same month.
In 2010, F1 trade guide Formula Money, estimated he could earn £380m, the equivalent of R6.7-billion, during the course of his career. At 23-years-old, he is England's richest sportsman below the age of 30.
Do you think Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton should’ve allowed team mate Nico Rosberg to overtake? Have your say in our home page voting booth!
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
The big 'silly season' rumour over the 2014 Hungarian GP weekend (July 27) was about Hamilton's silver-coloured seat beyond the end of his 2015 contract worth the equivalent of R252-million.
The news followed hot on the heels of Nico Rosberg's extended Mercedes deal, reportedly featuring a big pay-rise making his new three-year contract worth €55-million, the equivalent of R776-million.
PLAYING 'CONTRACT POKER'
On Monday (July 28), Bild-Zeitung reports that Hamilton and his management are pushing for a new €90-million deal, the equivalent of about R1.2-billion, to cover 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The 'contract poker' could explain the true source of the speculation linking Mercedes with Red Bull's champion driver Sebastian Vettel after that was first leaked by Helmut Marko but team boss Christian Horner smiled in Hungary that Marko sat down for "breakfast, lunch and dinner" on every day of a GP weekend with fellow Austrian Niki Lauda.
Lauda doubles as Mercedes' non-exec team chairman.
However Marko told German TV Sky after the 2014 Hungarian GP that he saw nothing wrong with the rumours that float around F1's best and highly-paid drivers at contract time.
He would not comment on whether Mercedes has actually made an approach to Vettel: "At this time of the year it's a completely normal process. You would have to ask him."
LEWIS WORTH MILLIONS
Forbes magazine reported Hamilton earned the equivalent of R304-million by June 2014 and a further R31-million in endorsements by the same month.
In 2010, F1 trade guide Formula Money, estimated he could earn £380m, the equivalent of R6.7-billion, during the course of his career. At 23-years-old, he is England's richest sportsman below the age of 30.
Do you think Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton should’ve allowed team mate Nico Rosberg to overtake? Have your say in our home page voting booth!
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
