Ryar wrote: ↑04 Mar 2022, 15:02
Big Tea wrote: ↑04 Mar 2022, 14:01
Ryar wrote: ↑04 Mar 2022, 05:43
It's fun to see Hamilton's position as highest grosser being shaken by a super talented 24 year old driver.
A driver that was lucky to get 2 second a lap faster car for 7 long years that no one had in the modern F1 era, is somehow a greater achiever and justified to command 50+ million pay and a talented driver that beat him in equal machinery getting the deal is a stuff is a problem. A driver that hasn't won a single race yet getting 25 million a year deal is a lot funny in my opinion.
It's a massive statement by Red Bull Racing of their intent to stay in F1, that they are willing to pay such a retainer with that long contract. While there are always question marks over Mercedes' long term commitment to the sport.
Remember this is his salary set for 8 years into the future, and most of Hamilton's is on previous negotiations.
Compare your salary now with that of 8 years ago and it will not look fat
TBH I'm happy for him and hope he sticks around to collect
Lewis signed the deal for 33 million a year when he joined Mercedes. As part of his second renewal for 2019/20, he then started getting 55 million a year. It's not like he got 55 million from 2013.
He's had more than one deal which allowed for new salary negotiations. Max has signed a long deal so there won't be a break in which to renegotiate a higher salary. I think that's the point he was making.
I wonder if Max's deal has a salary increment clause in it - it would be a sensible thing to have asked for when signing such a long (by F1 standards) contract. A kind of "40 million in years 1 and 2, 44 million in years 3 and 4..." that sort of thing. I'd guess that there's some form of "if build a rubbish car, I can leave" clause in there somewhere too so Max can get out if Red Bull drop the ball. Likewise I wouldn't be surprised if Red Bull have a "if you don't perform we can chop you early" clause on their side.
It's the non-salary clauses that take time in such discussions. The money is pretty much easy stuff. I remember DC saying he turned down a contract with Ferrari because he wouldn't sign a "number 2 driver" clause. As he later admitted, whilst laughing, that was rather silly of him.
The ever higher salaries aren't really that indicative of anything anyway. It's just like the silliness with the record points totals that Sebastien and Lewis have - more points are available now so bigger career totals are a given. Max will doubtless overtake those two if he stays in the sport for as long as they have and has access to decent cars. Likewise salaries - the idea of "a record driver salary" is silly because all salaries are going up over time anyway. What's amazing today for a top driver will look a bit lame in 20 years, for example. A driver at the back of the field is making money that would have looked great for midfield drivers 20 years ago.
If you are more fortunate than others, build a larger table not a taller fence.