Mercedes have announced Lewis Hamilton has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the team until the end of the 2020 Formula 1 season.
The current world champion, who joined Mercedes from McLaren ahead of the 2013 season, is in the final year of his previous deal.
The German team announced the new contract ahead of their home race, which takes place at the Hockenheimring this weekend.
In a statement announcing the new contract, Hamilton said: “This contract extension has basically been a formality since Toto and I sat down during the winter, so it’s good to put pen to paper, announce it and then get on with business as usual. I have been part of the Mercedes racing family for 20 years and I have never been happier inside a team than I am right now.
“We are on the same wavelength both on and off track – and I am looking forward to winning more in the future and shining even more light on the three-pointed star. I’m very confident that Mercedes is the right place to be over the coming years. Although we have enjoyed so much success together since 2013, Mercedes is hungrier than ever – from Dr Zetsche and the board members at the top of Daimler, through Toto and the team management, to every single person I meet in the corridors of Brixworth and Brackley.
“The competitive passion that burns bright inside me is shared by every single member of this group – always chasing the next improvement and digging even deeper to make sure we come out on top. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the next two-and-a-half seasons.”
Team principal Toto Wolff added: “We have been aligned with Lewis ever since we first sat down to discuss the details of this contract after last season, but there has understandably been a lot of interest and speculation around the whole process, so it’s good to put all of that to rest and get this thing announced. We signed the final documents this week and didn’t want to keep people waiting any longer! There is not much about Lewis as a Formula One driver that hasn’t been said already – he is one of the all-time greats and his track record speaks for itself.”
Hamilton has won three world titles and 44 Grand Prix since moving to Mercedes, adding to the 2008 title he won with the Mercedes-powered McLaren.