James Allison’s return ‘doesn’t change’ Lewis Hamilton’s plans on Mercedes contract extension

Lewis Hamilton undeterred by James Allison's return, clarifies that it has no bearing on his contract extension with Mercedes

James Allison’s return ‘doesn’t change’ Lewis Hamilton’s plans on Mercedes contract extension

Lewis Hamilton and James Allison (Credits: Daily Express)

Mercedes’ reorganization of its technical structure has raised questions about Lewis Hamilton’s contract extension. James Allison has returned to his role as Technical Director and Mike Elliott has taken the position of Chief Technical Officer. Mercedes hopes this would be the key to recovering their position in the championship. However, their driver, Lewis Hamilton, has downplayed the impact of Allison’s return on his future with the team.

Hamilton has not won a race for over 16 months and rumors have circulated that he might consider his options if Mercedes continues to disappoint. But he has been tight-lipped about how Allison’s return will affect his contract negotiations. When asked if Allison’s return would be the key to him re-signing with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton was unequivocal, stating, “It doesn’t change it. I mean James was already there, he was in our team already.”

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In the midst of all this, the news of James Allison’s return to his former role as Technical Director has taken the F1 world by storm. While this decision has been welcomed by many, some experts have questioned its timing and purpose. Damon Hill, the 1996 World Champion, suggests that Mercedes might have brought Allison back to prove to Hamilton that they are willing to make changes to improve.

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Mercedes overhauls technical structure in response to disappointing season  

Mercedes crew working on Hamilton's W14
Mercedes crew working on Hamilton’s W14 (Credits: Planet F1)

Hamilton did acknowledge that Allison’s swap with Mike Elliott would be “great for the team,” but added, “We already had them in the team… What continues to give me confidence within the team is how everyone stays so focused, everyone’s continuing to push, the energy at the factory’s amazing.”

Mercedes has struggled in the past two seasons, with a car concept that did not favor them in 2022 and getting outclassed by Aston Martin, their customer team, in 2023. In response, the team has begun a complete redesign of its concept, in the hope of returning to their former glory.

Hamilton’s contract will run through the 2023 season and it is to be seen if he would like to continue in the sport. He seems to put a lot of faith in the values that Mercedes represents and how they continue to work on presenting themselves both on and off the track. He referred to the team as his family, emphasizing that the decision to extend his contract would likely not rest solely on any one factor.

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