Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has opened up about how talks have advanced with Lewis Hamilton regarding his contract extension, shutting down any rumours about a possible move to Ferrari for the seven-time World Champion.
Hamilton’s current contract runs until the end of the 2023 season, and he is yet to agree on an extension with Mercedes.
Amid the speculation about Hamilton’s future in Formula 1, rumours have emerged about the Brit possibly signing a contract with Ferrari, but Wolff was eager to push away any prospect of Hamilton making a move to Maranello.
“These rumours [about Hamilton moving to Ferrari] come up every two years when we have to sign a new contract,” Wolff told oe24. “But none of this is true. We discuss normally, without any time pressure.”
The Mercedes team boss further admitted that he finds negotiating with Hamilton an uncomfortable task, but he is confident that the pair will reach an agreement for next season.
“It’s just uncomfortable that two friends, two blood brothers who have been through thick and thin for ten years, suddenly have to discuss money,” he explained.
“I’m firmly convinced that we’ll find each other, there’s not a millimetre of doubt for me.
Despite being 38 years old, Hamilton is not the oldest driver on the current F1 grid as his former McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso is currently finding fresh success at Aston Martin at the age of 41.
“I can’t imagine anything else [other than Hamilton continuing to race at Mercedes]. If we give Lewis a competitive car, he will win for a long time. Look at Tom Brady [and] what he was still capable of in his 40s.”
Hamilton currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, two positions and 16 points clear of Mercedes team-mate George Russell, having also notched the Silver Arrows’ only podium finish of the campaign so far when he came home second in Australia.
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