Hamilton: Wolff should not run F1

Lewis Hamilton believes Toto Wolff should not be appointed as the next head of Formula 1, suggesting his Mercedes boss could apply unconscious bias were he appointed to the top job. Wolff has been linked with replacing Chase Carey in recent months.

Carey's contract as F1 chief reportedly expires in 2020, with a new era of F1 set to start in 2021 as regulations continue to be thrashed out between the teams and the sport's bosses.

Wolff has overseen Mercedes' dominance of the sport since taking a stake in the team in 2013 and he has developed the kind of imposing partnership previously seen at Ferrari between Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt, who now heads up the FIA.

Hamilton stopped short of accusing Todt of bias towards the Scuderia, but seems to be concerned that Wolff's decisions could be taken out of context if he were in charge of F1.

"I don't believe there's a better manager than Toto within the whole of F1," said Hamilton.

"However, sitting back as a fan, when you sit in the room with people who ultimately have to make decisions, we as humans are I think – this is just my opinion – we can be biased.

"You've got Jean Todt, I know Jean's level, but the fact is he's been with the red team for so long, so surely when he wakes up if there's a red T-shirt and a silver T-shirt, he probably goes for a red one. You know what I mean? Just like I get out of bed, I see 44 or I see number six, I will go for number 44!

"And Toto has been Mercedes through and through for such a long period of time. I don't know if there's anything in that.

"But if it's a choice of management, I think he would be the best, but I think in the best scheme of things it's someone from outside, who's neutral, if there can be someone who's completely neutral, who doesn't know about Ferrari."

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