Lewis talks himself into $4500/hour F1 deal

01 April 2015 - 02:55 By Reuters

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is ready to sign a new contract that, according to reports, could net him more than $40-million a year. "It should be done this week. There's no reason why it shouldn't be," the Mercedes driver said, after finishing second in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix."Honestly, it's 99.6% done. There's no negotiating left. It's just legal stuff."The BBC reported yesterday that the 30-year-old Briton, who has conducted his own negotiations with Mercedes, will earn about the same basic salary as in his first contract with the team he joined in 2013.However, other sources indicated the terms would be more lucrative, to reflect his success and status.With bonuses, depending on the number of race wins and retaining the championship, the BBC calculated the total amount would be "well over $40-million" - working out at more than $4500 an hour.Hamilton, who won the first of his two titles with McLaren in 2008, is one of the three highest-paid drivers in the sport, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and McLaren's Fernando Alonso reckoned to earn at least what the Briton does.He is out of contract at the end of this season, and the saga of his negotiations has kept everyone interested since last year, when the talks were put on hold for him to concentrate on the title battle. ..

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