Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton is stalling on a new deal due to worries about Mercedes car

Jenson Button thinks Lewis Hamilton is holding off on committing to a new deal with Mercedes until he sees how competitive they will be this season.

Hamilton, 38, who is chasing a record eighth world championship title before retirement, is yet to pen an extension to his current deal which expires at the end of 2023.

Mercedes have been insisting that a new multi-year deal is a formality ever since the end of last season.

Team principal Toto Wolff said last month it was just a question of ‘sticking our heads together, wrestling a bit, and then leaving the room with white smoke after a few hours’.

However, at the launch of Mercedes’ new car earlier this month, Wolff was then reluctant to commit to a specific time-frame for the signing of a new contract.

And Button, who won the world championship back in 2009 and was a former team-mate of Hamilton’s at McLaren for three years from 2010-2012, had a theory as to why he hasn’t yet signed an extension.

‘It has to be that (wanting to know how competitive they are this season) right?’, he told The Telegraph. 

‘Why otherwise would you leave it this late? He knows how annoying we all are asking [about the contract]. 

‘I mean, we’ve got to ask the question. But he’s going to hate answering it over and over and over and over again. It can only be because he’s wondering how competitive they will be.’

Mercedes had a mixed performance during a three-day testing in Bahrain last week and Button insisted this is only likely to delay Hamilton’s decision.

He added: ‘Is he going to sign if the car is uncompetitive because he wants it to be quick again before he retires?

‘Or is he thinking “If it’s not better, I’m just going to retire.” Who knows?’

Button also claimed Red Bull are the favourites for this season’s Constructors’ Championship, but that he was excited to watch the battle between Mercedes team-mates Hamilton and George Russell.

The 43-year-old explained: ‘I think it’s a great fight. You know, they’re both so talented. One’s obviously got more world championships than anyone else. 

‘But George, you know, he’s just great, he really is. In terms of his driving, in terms of his engineering skills. I think he’s a great talent.’

Russell earned 35 more points than Hamilton during the 2022 season and picked up Mercedes’ only victory last season at the Brazil GP in Sao Paulo.  

However, Button fully expects the challenge to be tougher for the promising Russell this year. 

He explained: ‘First year, it’s easy because there’s no real pressure on your shoulders. Nobody expects you to beat Lewis Hamilton. 

‘But second year in, it’s like “Now we’re gonna see what you can do.” So I’m looking forward to watching that. They’re both hopefully going to be fighting for wins.’