Lewis Hamilton has shown a glimpse of his helmet for the 2020 Formula One season as he prepares for contract talks with Mercedes.
Shortly after the Brackley based team unveiled their livery for the new season featuring the logo of new sponsors Ineos, Hamilton shared a photo on Instagram of his possible helmet.
An image of the Christ the Redeemer statue can be seen on the helmet, which features a purple and pink trim with Hamilton asking fans to vote on the colour scheme.
Whichever helmet Hamilton chooses for the 2020 season could be the final one he wears as a Mercedes driver, as he is out of contract at the end of the year and has been linked with a shock switch to Ferrari.
However, Mercedes are ready to break the bank to make the six-time world champion the wealthiest Formula 1 driver in history.
It has been suggested his next contract, one which might prove to be his last in the sport, could earn him closer to a staggering £60million-per-year – a £20m-per-year rise on his current deal.
The eye-watering sums play against the backdrop of Mercedes’ parent company, Daimler, reportedly preparing to axe as many as 15,000 jobs.
Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff, who revealed he has not spoken to his star driver for two months, said: “You need to respect that a sporting superstar at the peak of his ability, and at the peak of his career, has a limited lifespan where he is able to earn this kind of super money.
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“We do respect that and we respect the contribution that Lewis brings to Mercedes both on and off the track.
“Equally, Lewis has always respected that we are Mercedes and there are certain financial realities that are important to us.
“The money side has never been a sticking point [in previous contracts]. It was more about freedom and his projects.
“We need to look at what makes him perform best. We want the best guy on qualifying on Saturday and in the race on Sunday and that will always be my main focus.”
Hamilton will get the first taste of the Mercedes he hopes will fire him to a record-equalling seventh world title during a behind-closed-doors event at Silverstone on Friday.
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Getty Images – Getty
Like Hamilton, Mercedes’ future is also uncertain, with the German manufacturer yet to formally commit to the sport beyond this year.
“We like the Formula One platform but at the same time we are in negotiation with the rights’ holder, and things need to be sorted out,” said Wolff.
“It is an ongoing process with a complicated set of contracts and that takes time. The devil is in the detail.”
Mercedes’ rivals Ferrari launch their new car in Italy on Tuesday, ahead of the first winter test in Barcelona next week. The season starts in Melbourne on March 15.
Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport
