By Xinhua
London : Formula One (F1) driver Lewis Hamilton has signed a five-year contract with McLaren, extending his tenure with the team to 15 years.
Hamilton’s original deal was signed in 2006, but McLaren Friday decided on a new contract after the English driver’s rookie F1 season in which he finished runner-up to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
McLaren chief executive Ron Dennis said the 23-year-old Hamilton, the first black driver in F1, had exceeded all expectations and deserved improved financial terms.
“Today’s (Friday’s) announcement will take the length of our relationship with Lewis to a total of 15 years, which we believe is among the longest running associations between a sportsman and a team in the history of sport, particularly motorsport,” Dennis said.
Hamilton said he would be happy to drive for McLaren for the rest of his career.
“Whilst last year was my first year with the team in Formula 1, I have been connected to McLaren and Mercedes-Benz since 1998 and feel that I could easily drive for this team for the whole of my Formula 1 career,” he said.
McLaren was kicked out of constructors’ championship last season as punishment for possessing confidential Ferrari documents.