Ted Kravitz says Hamilton's new F1 deal is to get 'justice for Abu Dhabi 2021'

02 September 2023 , 18:02

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Ted Kravitz says Hamilton's new F1 deal is to get 'justice for Abu Dhabi 2021'

Ted Kravitz thinks Lewis Hamilton is out for "justice" having signed a new deal to extend his Formula 1 career.

The Brit has committed to at least two more years racing for Mercedes and in the sport, keeping him in F1 beyond his 40th birthday. It means he will have two more attempts, at the very least, to finally secure the eighth world championship that he has craved ever since he landed his seventh.

Hamilton hasn't had the car to do that in the last two seasons. Instead, ever since Max Verstappen pipped him to the 2021 title in controversial circumstances, he and his Red Bull team have had a dominant grip on the sport.

In his Ted's Notebook show on Sky Sports after qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday, Kravitz gave his opinion on the situation. He said: "The speed is okay in himself. Lewis says, 'I've still got the speed, I've still got the motivation'. So the only question is, does he believe in the team?

"As George Russell said after qualifying, Hamilton is old enough and rich enough to do exactly what he wants with his life. He doesn't have to say around doing motor racing, but he loves doing it so much and he believes in Mercedes so much that he's chosen to do it.

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"He's still the GOAT and he's looking for that deceptive [sic] eighth world championship. Is this the contract that will get Lewis Hamilton his eighth world championship? Lewis certainly says that's what he's looking for, and that he's looking for a ninth. More championships, plural.

"Lewis also said he's looking at the next contract after this one, so maybe this won't be the last contract that Lewis Hamilton signs even though he will be in his 40s when it ends. He said, 'I never thought I would still be in Formula 1 in my 40s', but things change and indeed he will be."

After acknowledging that enjoyment factor, Kravitz went on to assert that the Brit will want to set the record straight after that pain two years ago. The Sky pundit added: "Listen, justice for Abu Dhabi 2021. I know a lot of you will be thinking that and, at least, it keeps Lewis in the game.

"He's never going to say it – he might think it and Toto Wolff might think it, Mercedes might think it and Lewis fans might think it – but Lewis isn't saying it. He's still looking for the world championship that was denied him by the FIA mistake in Abu Dhabi 2021."

Daniel Moxon