For months System One followers have been spamming Mercedes’ social media accounts demanding to know when the crew deliberate to #AnnounceLewis for 2021.

Technically, Hamilton has been out of contract since January 1 when his earlier two-year deal lapsed, though there was little or no concern that he wouldn’t proceed this yr.

The followers simply needed readability and affirmation.

On Monday that confirmation finally dropped, however with it got here a shock. In contrast to his earlier multi-year contracts, this deal was just for one yr.

It was by no means actually doubtful that Hamilton would proceed to drive for Mercedes this yr. There have been no areas left at different groups and the perfect crew on the grid was not going to shun its seven-time world champion.

Maybe Hamilton may have turned his again on the game completely, however with a record-breaking eighth title up for grabs — and his personal place in F1 historical past forward of Michael Schumacher on seven championships — it will have been a outstanding resolution.

Talking through a web-based press convention on Monday, crew principal Toto Wolff mentioned “there was by no means a second the place we thought he would not signal and there was by no means a second the place he doubted [he would sign].”

So why the lengthy wait?

Initially, negotiations began approach later than Mercedes or Hamilton had deliberate. Initially the 2 sides delayed talks because of the coronavirus pandemic, which condensed a 17-race schedule into six months and, attributable to social distancing measures, made it tough to take a seat down head to head away from the circuit.

What’s extra, each side trusted the opposite one needed to proceed in 2021, in order the season progressed there was no urgency to place pen to paper.

It appeared wise for Hamilton to give attention to securing his seventh title first, so negotiations had been initially kicked again to the ultimate three races of the season within the Center East.

However after successful the primary of the these races — the Bahrain Grand Prix in November — Hamilton contracted COVID-19 and was pressured to self-isolate and sit out of the Sakhir Grand Prix, which was the penultimate race.

After a swift restoration and ten days in isolation in Bahrain, he made it again to the F1 paddock on the eve of the ultimate race weekend in Abu Dhabi — however once more racing took priority over sitting across the negotiating desk.

That delayed the beginning of negotiations till the week earlier than Christmas, lower than a few weeks earlier than Hamilton’s earlier two-year deal was attributable to lapse on the finish of 2020.

Once more, each side remained calm realizing a deal for 2021 was by no means doubtful, however committing to something longer-term required consideration of numerous different components that Wolff, who additionally caught COVID-19 in January, says weren’t easy to resolve within the time left on the desk.

In the long run, a call was taken to signal a deal for 2021 and postpone talks about 2022 and past to a later date.

“We collectively agreed on a one-year deal,” Wolff mentioned. “Initially, there’s a substantial regulation change in 2022 and we additionally wish to see how the world develops, and the corporate.

“On the opposite facet, as a result of we saved it very late, we needed to debate the contract on the finish of the season between the Bahrain races after which clearly Lewis did not really feel effectively and ultimately we began our negotiation and dialog simply earlier than Christmas and it was vital to get it carried out as quickly as doable.

“In that respect, we thought let’s postpone the dialog about 2022 and onwards to a later stage in 2021.”

The plan is to set an earlier date this yr to choose up negotiations, however it’s nonetheless not completely clear which components are stopping a long-term dedication coming collectively. Wolff talked about new technical rules for 2022, which pose the most important menace to Mercedes’ dominance of F1 going ahead, however a brand new monetary actuality after the pandemic seems to be the central issue.

“There are uncertainties on the earth that have an effect on the way in which that the game can function and so they can have an affect on our income, on TV cash, on sponsorship earnings,” Wolff defined when pushed on what would possibly change between now and the subsequent set of negotiations.

“Mercedes is in an enormous transformation in the direction of electrical mobility and which means funding. So we live in a monetary actuality that may be very completely different to what it was a couple of years in the past.

“However having mentioned that, we’re completely in line, Lewis and me and the broader group in Mercedes, in regards to the state of affairs. There was by no means any discrepancy in opinion, it is simply that we received a superb signature on the 2021 contract as a result of we have to get going after which discover a while throughout to 2021 — earlier this time round — to debate the long run.

“It isn’t simply particularly to 2022 but in addition past. That’s not one thing that we needed to carve out through video conferencing between Christmas and the tip of January.”

However Wolff burdened that the explanation for the staggered negotiations was extra difficult than merely the monetary figures within the contract.

“Lewis has at all times recognised that this can be a very tough interval,” he added. “Troublesome for everyone, tough from a well being perspective, there’s rather more vital subjects than System One racing, and likewise the auto trade is in a change section.

“So the cash matter wasn’t the sticking level. It was extra about [getting a deal done to] allow us to get going shortly for 2021.”

Wolff additionally took the chance to disclaim rumours Hamilton was holding out for a veto over who his future teammate may be after Valtteri Bottas, who additionally has a one-year contract to drive with Mercedes till the tip of 2021.

“On the precise clauses that had been on the market within the media, I do not know the place it got here from as a result of none of that’s true,” he mentioned. “I truly examine this, I discovered it an attention-grabbing perspective.

“However the fact is there was not a second of dialogue about any driver-specific clause. He has by no means requested for that within the final eight years and it is a crew resolution.

“The opposite clause [suggested in the media] about Lewis receiving a income cut up or income share, that hearsay was baseless too. So none of that was ever a part of our discussions.”

May Hamilton stroll away from F1 on the finish of 2021?

An absence of a contract past the tip of this yr provides Hamilton the choice of leaving the game on the finish of the season. By that point he may very well be an eight-time world champion, making him essentially the most profitable System One driver of all time and providing a uncommon alternative to bow out on the very prime.

“I believe that is very a lot Lewis’ resolution,” Wolff mentioned. “So long as he enjoys racing, I believe he’s very able to going longer.

“He develops as a driver, he takes care of himself when it comes to bodily coaching and psychological preparation so I do not suppose that when it comes to potential that ends in 2021, however ultimately, it is his resolution.

“I believe Lewis must resolve what his future holds for him, which is why I would not wish to touch upon the place Lewis stands.”

One indication that Hamilton intends to stick with Mercedes past 2021 is the creation of a charitable basis to enhance range and inclusion in motorsport as a part of the brand new contract. Each Mercedes and Hamilton had been F1’s core champions of such causes in 2020, however such change may be very a lot a long-term dedication.

The joint basis between Hamilton and Mercedes, which was initially urged by Ola Kallenius, CEO of father or mother firm Daimler, suggests Hamilton intends to stay concerned with Mercedes on some degree for years to return. That involvement may very well be in an ambassadorial function moderately than a driver, however it does counsel Hamilton has no plans of leaving Mercedes for an additional crew in F1.

After all, Mercedes has to take care of its personal pursuits too and will probably be planning past Hamilton — even when he chooses to signal one other deal for a number of seasons past 2021. Key to these plans will probably be George Russell, who’s at the moment on mortgage from Mercedes to Williams however will probably be freed from his Williams contract on the finish of the yr.

Russell stood in for Hamilton ultimately yr’s Sakhir Grand Prix, confirming the potential Mercedes suspected he had once they first began investing in his profession in 2016, and marking himself out as a star of the long run.

Wolff mentioned Mercedes will converse with Hamilton and Bottas first in any contract talks over 2022, however that does not rule out bringing Russell into the crew to coincide with F1’s regulation overhaul at first of subsequent yr.

“The crew must resolve long run what we’re going to do about drivers” Wolff mentioned. “Valtteri and Lewis have our 100% dedication and loyalty for 2021, we’ll help them with every part we have now.

“We are going to then look past this yr and say what’s the line-up we think about in 2022 and onwards. Our first discussions are going to be with Valtteri and Lewis in respecting our values of loyalty and integrity however on the opposite facet, the younger drivers are the long run and due to this fact we have to think about how we wish to set ourselves up for the years past.”

For that motive, the palms held by each Mercedes and Hamilton throughout their 2022 contract negotiations are unlikely to vary from those that solid the deal introduced on Monday. No matter was stopping greater than a single yr deal this time spherical will nonetheless be there for 2022, however finally there will probably be extra time to discover a resolution that fits each side.

“For me, he is the perfect driver,” Wolff mentioned. “He has an enormous world following, a lot past the racing fan and he is gained seven championships — with out making main errors within the final three years. “Like many within the crew, and the broader organisation, he is an vital pillar of the crew’s success. On the opposite facet, Lewis recognises he’s one among 2000 that we have now inside our crew — engine and chassis — and that it isn’t two superstars, however 2000 superstars and every of us contributes to the crew’s success.

“After which as a result of he has this helicopter perspective of the broader world on the market, it was a really robust yr, for us personally, from a well being standpoint, and likewise from an financial standpoint, so he knew although he has delivered from his facet, there may be a cheap actuality on the market that’s vital to respect.”