Nico Rosberg reveals potential ‘deciding factor’ in Lewis Hamilton contract talks

Putting in a “back-to-his-best” drive to second in Spain, Nico Rosberg believes Sunday’s result could be the inspiration Lewis Hamilton needs to finally sign a new contract with Mercedes.

Hamilton is out of contract with the team at the end of this season with pundits claiming he wants to see whether or not Mercedes could recover after a trying start to this campaign before committing his future.

There were signs of that at the Spanish Grand Prix as the Briton raced his way to second place behind Max Verstappen while George Russell made it a podium double for the Brackley squad.

Hamilton was voted ‘Driver of the Day’ by Formula 1 fans as the seven-time World Champion survived an early clash with Lando Norris before later putting in a storming pass on Carlos Sainz down into Turn 1 to take second place.

“He was really on it, really quick, really well managed,” Rosberg told Sky Sports about his former team-mate. “I think back-to-his-best kind of driving.

“It’s good to see the positivity.”

Positivity that the 2016 World Champion reckons could inspire Hamilton to sign on the dotted line for 2024, perhaps even beyond.

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“Who knows,” Rosberg continued, “I mean he’s in contract negotiations and he’s kind of on the fence of what he’s doing and things like that.

“Maybe a day like this could be the deciding factor to push him to put pen to paper maybe get a contract done.”

The German reiterated this as per F1-Insider, saying: “Days like this are perhaps a decisive factor in motivating him to sign.

“It has been such a tough time for Mercedes but now there really is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Hamilton could, in fact, already have a new Mercedes deal signed off with the Briton revealing on Sunday afternoon that he’d been meeting with his team boss Toto Wolff on Monday.

“I haven’t signed anything yet,” he said in the post-race press conference. “I think I’m meeting Toto tomorrow so hopefully we can get something done.”

Wolff says it should take all of half an hour: “We just have to find the time and sit down for a coffee , then the whole thing will probably take half an hour.”

Should Hamilton agree a new deal this week, he’ll be the second Mercedes driver to extend his future with the team with sources telling PlanetF1.com that Russell has committed his long-term Formula 1 future to the team.