Grand Prix of Austria/Österreich in Spielberg
Third Free Practice:
1. Max Verstappen NED Red Bull 1:04,591
2. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes + 0,538
3. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes 0,686
4. Pierre Gasly FRA Alpha Tauri 0,689
5. Antonio Giovinazzi ITA Alfa Romeo 0,754
6. Carlos Sainz ESP Ferrari 0,756
7. Sergio Perez MEX Red Bull 0,805
8. Fernando Alonso ESP Alpine 0,843
9. Charles Leclerc MON Ferrari 0,893
10. Sebastian Vettel GER Aston Martin 0,951
11. Lance Stroll CAN Aston Martin 0,955
12. Yuki Tsunoda JPN Alpha Tauri 0,970
13. Esteban Ocon FRA Alpine 1,083
14. George Russell GBR Williams 1,103
15. Lando Norris GBR McLaren 1,109
16. Daniel Ricciardo AUS McLaren 1,134
17. Kimi Räikkönen FIN Alfa Romeo 1,156
18. Mick Schumacher GER Haas 1,487
19. Nicolas Latifi CAN Williams 1,514
20. Nikita Mazepin RUS Haas 1,698
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Hamilton stays with Mercedes for another 2 Years.
https://sport.orf.at/stories/3080145/
The 36-year-old Briton, who has been with Mercedes since 2013, will thus drive for the German factory team for at least eleven years in total. At the beginning of this year, the 98-time Grand Prix winner had extended his contract by just one season. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it had taken a long time for both sides to come to an agreement. Now everything went off without a hitch. Hamilton had wanted to reach an agreement before the summer break in August. Now it worked out even sooner.
"We've achieved a lot together, but we can achieve a lot more, both on and off the track," Hamilton said, adding, with an eye on sweeping rule changes in Formula One next year, "We're at the start of a new era of cars that will be challenging and exciting at the same time, and I can't wait to find out what else we'll achieve together."
No distractions from the competition
Hamilton won six of his seven world championship titles for Mercedes and could become the first Formula 1 driver ever to become champion for the eighth time this season. Ahead of Sunday's ninth of 23 rounds of the season in Spielberg, he sits second in the standings, 18 points behind Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. "We're really enjoying the duel this year, and that's why we wanted to conclude the contract talks so early, so that it wouldn't be a distraction from the competition on the track," said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff: "I've told Lewis that he can always drive with us as long as this incredible fire for racing burns inside him."
In 2022, new regulations will come into force that can be described as a revolution. The new cars will be heavier, subject to new aerodynamics regulations, and the chassis will be greatly simplified. "At the start of the new Formula 1 era from the 2022 season, I can't wish for a better driver in the team than Lewis," Wolff said. Hamilton's successes would speak for themselves. "And with his experience, speed and racing intelligence, he is reaching the peak of his capabilities," the Viennese said.
While Hamilton thus ended speculation about his motorsport future, it remains open who will be his teammate in 2022. Finn Valtteri Bottas' contract expires at the end of the season and has not yet been extended. One candidate for the second cockpit is Williams driver George Russell.
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