McLaren Offers Hamilton New Deal With An Additional $3M Per Year

F1 team McLaren is pinning its hopes of persuading driver LEWIS HAMILTON to stay on a £2M ($3.2M) sweetener and the belief "he will not risk a move to under-performing Mercedes," according to Simon Cass of the London DAILY MAIL. The improved and, "in all likelihood," final offer from McLaren averages out to £12M ($19.5M) a season over three years. The number is still £3M ($4.9M) down on his current contract, which expires at the end of the season and that Mercedes has "already offered to match." But McLaren is confident that despite the wage cut, the British driver will re-sign as early as this week. He has been "impressed with the speed of his car this season and its development." However, the 27-year-old "is very tempted" by the prospect of working under ROSS BRAWN at Mercedes. Brawn helped guide MICHAEL SCHUMACHER to seven world titles. The German team has assured Hamilton that it will "get funds to become front-runners" (DAILY MAIL, 9/24).