Hamilton 'hopeful' on Mercedes contract negotiations
RESENDING WITH SCRIPT
VIDEO SHOWS: LEWIS HAMILTON INTERVIEW IN WHICH HE TALKS ABOUT CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH MERCEDES / REFLECTING ON WINNING SEVENTH WORLD TITLE / B-ROLL AND STILLS OF HAMILTON
SHOWS: SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - FEBRUARY 22, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. MERCEDES DRIVERS LEWIS HAMILTON AND VALTTERI BOTTAS, TEAM BOSS TOTO WOLFF, MANAGING DIRECTOR ANDY COWELL AND TECHNICAL DIRECTOR JAMES ALLISON STANDING BEHIND CAR AT LAUNCH
2. CAR / BOTTAS, WOLFF AND HAMILTON POSING FOR PHOTOS
UNKNOWN LOCATION (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION LEWIS HAMILTON SAYING ON CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH MERCEDES:
"Yeah, that is a question that people will obviously be chasing quite often. I believe we are realigned in our values, I think we are... we have a lot more to do together, so I am hopeful that once we get this racing finished, there are still three to go, we will really take the time to sit and plan, so we can maximise more moving forwards together in terms of the changes we are pushing for and I think we can achieve more in terms of winning."
SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - FEBRUARY 14, 2020) (MERCEDES VNR - NO RESALES)
4. HAMILTON PUTTING ON CRASH HELMET
5. HAMILTON SITTING IN THE CAR
6. HAMILTON DRIVING OFF
ISTANBUL, TURKEY (NOVEMBER 15, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL)
7. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LEWIS HAMILTON WITH HEAD BOWED ON COCKPIT OF CAR AFTER CLINCHING 2020 WORLD TITLE
8. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LEWIS HAMILTON APPEARING TO WIPE A TEAR FROM HIS EYE
9. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LEWIS HAMILTON WITH HIS HAND OVER HIS EYES
UNKNOWN LOCATION (NOVEMBER 18, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION LEWIS HAMILTON SAYING ON WINNING THE WORLD TITLE:
"I think this year... it has been that we are living in the pandemic which of course none of us expected to live. I think it has been the hardest year for everyone. At least that I can remember in my life time and yes there has been kind of this awakening this incredibly powerful movement. We have seen people unite coming from all different backgrounds. I have been very proud to be a part of that, pushing for change, so that has been a great driver in the background for me. But then winning a world championship, during this crazy pandemic, during the Black Lives Matter movement and pushing for racial equality for sure... I wouldn't say... I don't like to make it more meaningful than any other one, because they have all been special and unique in their own ways because I have been in different places in my life, and there has always been a different road to them."
ISTANBUL, TURKEY (NOVEMBER 15, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL)
11. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LEWIS HAMILTON WITH HIS ARMS RAISED IN CELEBRATION AFTER TURKISH GRAND PRIX
12. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF LEWIS HAMILTON WITH HIS ARMS RAISED IN CELEBRATION AFTER TURKISH GRAND PRIX
STORY: 2020 Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton is hopeful he can reach an agreement with Mercedes that will keep him at the team beyond the end of this season.
Hamilton, 35, won his seventh world title last weekend in Turkey, equalling Michael Schumacher's record.
However, his contract with Mercedes is up at the end of the year, meaning he could potentially only have three races left with the all-conquering outfit.
Speaking on Wednesday (November 18), Hamilton told Reuters that he felt he and the team had 'a lot more to do together' and was 'hopeful' a fresh deal could be struck.
(Production: Iain Axon)
