Money could be at the heart of the delay in Lewis Hamilton’s re-signing with the McLaren team.<\/p>\n
Until now, the British team has indicated it wants the 2008 world champion to stay on board, while 27-year-old Hamilton insists he has no plans to leave and will turn his attention to the 2013 contract soon.<\/p>\n
But according to Blick newspaper, McLaren is pushing to cut Hamilton’s existing contract retainer “in half” to “about EUR 10 million”.<\/p>\n
The Swiss report said the driver is unimpressed with the negotiations so far, but at least Hamilton’s mood has improved tenfold compared with his calamitous 2011.<\/p>\n
It is a full year since Hamilton raged about his “frickin ridiculous” track rivals in the 2011 Monaco grand prix, when he also half-seriously suggested that the stewards were targeting him “because I’m black”.<\/p>\n
He is back on top form this season, but still yet to win a race, arguably mainly due to McLaren’s numerous team mistakes.<\/p>\n
Reports have suggested boss Martin Whitmarsh, who insists Hamilton “deserves” to win this weekend in Monaco, is worried the mistakes might drive the highly rated racer away.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, however, Hamilton denied he is frustrated.<\/p>\n
“I’m not, no.\u00a0 This is the way racing goes sometimes,” he insisted.<\/p>\n
“I could easily get frustrated because I could have a healthy lead in the championship — but that’s not the case.<\/p>\n
“I don’t want to speak too early but something has definitely changed.\u00a0 Whatever I’m doing is working,” he told British reporters.<\/p>\n
“In life, things just seem a lot better and that’s enabling me to get on with my job without having any baggage.”<\/p>\n
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