MCLAREN HAVE REPORTEDLY offered Lewis Hamilton an improved €15million contract to stave off interest from rival Mercedes.
The team is hoping the two-million pound sweetener, that would elevate his wage packet over three years to 36-million pounds, will persuade the 2008 world champion to turn down overtures from Mercedes.
The contract is still three-million pounds down on his current deal which expires at the end of the season, an offer Mercedes is prepared to match.
The Woking-based team is confident McLaren will remain with the set-up despite the wage cut given the car’s development and enhanced race pace this season.
Hamilton is fourth in the drivers’ standing with 142 points while team-mate Jenson Button is sixth with 119.
Mercedes pair Romain Grosjean (93) and Michael Schumacher (43) have enjoyed good pace in qualifying but are down in seventh and 12th respectively.
Hamilton, 27, is said to be tempted by the prospect of working under Ross Brawn at Mercedes, the man who helped guide Schumacher to his seven world titles, and has been given assurances the team has the funds to improve the car.
The Mercedes board is due to meet on Tuesday amid rumours Schumacher is set to retire.
