Mercedes in an ideal position: 'Have free choice for 2022'

Hamilton stays

It took a while, but on Monday Mercedes and Hamilton finally announced that the successful partnership will be extended by one year. This puts an end to the rumours surrounding the contract negotiations and makes it possible to look forward to the start of the new season.

''The deal is only for 2021, and therefore not the multi-year deal that many people were talking about. It makes a lot of sense. There will be new regulations in 2022 and this contract gives Lewis the opportunity to see if he wants to continue with the new cars and the path F1 is taking,'' Buxton said in his latest video.

Open choice for Mercedes

''It also gives Mercedes all the freedom. The contracts of Valtteri Bottas, Lewis Hamilton and, interestingly, George Russell. There will be a lot of talk about this in 2021, but it gives Mercedes an open choice to choose between those three, or perhaps someone from outside, for 2022.''

Buxton, however, believes there is a good chance Hamilton will stay. ''If Hamilton still has that competitive spirit and believes in the new cars, why would he want to stop and why would Mercedes want to stop racing with him? Put simply they wouldn't. So the chances of there being a new part for 2022 seem very high,'' the Formula One reporter concludes.