F1: Hamilton signs on for 2021 with Mercedes-AMG

In the least unsurprising news of the year, reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton – sorry, Sir Lewis Hamilton – has renewed his commitment to Mercedes-AMG, signing on for the 2021 season.

It’ll be Hamilton’s ninth consecutive year racing with Mercedes-AMG; he joined in 2013, the year before Merc’s record-breaking run that has dominated the current turbo hybrid era of F1. It's all change next year, of course...

We’re told a big part of the new contract will centre on better diversity and inclusion in motorsport, building on the team’s efforts in 2020. “This will take the form of a joint charitable foundation,” says Merc.

“I am excited to be heading into my ninth season with my Mercedes teammates,” said Hamilton. “Our team has achieved incredible things together and we look forward to building on our success even further, while continuously looking to improve, both on and off the track.

“I’m equally determined to continue the journey we started to make motorsport more diverse for future generations and I am grateful that Mercedes has been extremely supportive of my call to address this issue,” he added. “I’m proud to say we are taking that effort further this year by launching a foundation dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the sport. I am inspired by all that we can build together and can’t wait to get back on the track in March.”

His boss, Toto Wolff, said: “Together, we have decided to extend the sporting relationship for another season and to begin a longer-term project to take the next step in our shared commitment to greater diversity within our sport.

“Lewis’s competitive record stands alongside the best the sports world has ever seen, and he is a valued ambassador for our brand and our partners. The story of Mercedes and Lewis has written itself into the history books of our sport over the past eight seasons, and we are hungry to compete and to add more chapters to it.”

Reckon anyone can touch Sir Lewis Hamilton this year? Have a quick look through his Formula 1 career stats... so far.