Wolff "not cornered" by Hamilton contract talks
Wolff "not cornered" by Hamilton contract talks
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has dismissed concerns that leaving contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton to the eleventh hour could leave him "cornered".
Hamilton could secure his record-equalling seventh Formula 1 world title on Sunday and is widely expected to sign a contract extension with constructors' champions Mercedes.
Throughout the year, Wolff has maintained it was "always the plan" to wait until both the championship titles were secured before entering into negotiations, but despite with Hamilton's deal up at the end of 2020 - just 48 days away - the Austrian remains calm.
"I don't want to drop a date [for a new deal] here because if I do everybody is going to ask at every single race," said Wolff.
"But this is what we agreed. I think it was important to make sure that we have both titles secured and then have a more relaxed approach to the discussion about the future."
Pressed on whether the rapidly shrinking timeframe in which to complete a deal left him "feeling cornered", Wolff added: "No, not at all cornered. There is a good dependence on each other.
"We would like him in the car and I think he wants to drive the Mercedes because it is competitive. So, of course, there is a good balance."
Of his own future, and on the topic of appointing a successor, Wolff commented: "I believe that each of us has a certain shelf-life as a team principal.
"It is not sustainable to do a few hundred races and be the best you that started on the journey.
"It is a job that involves being in an aeroplane for 20 or so races and then coming back on Monday, you have an office job. I did 250-odd air miles last year and 500 hours of flying and it is something I don't want to do for the rest of my life.
"But I take enjoyment in what I do and I certainly don't want to step away from the Mercedes team. I am a co-owner with Mercedes, it is something I am very proud of and the team functions very well but it has become quite a large company with our engineering arm, applied sciences growing strongly.
"I believe that I should hand over the baton to somebody who will start his journey with the same motivation and energy as when I started. That is a natural progression we have done on a technical level over the years and I will be very proud seeing somebody performing better than I do and I will be watching that from a different, more senior role."
Asked if his successor had already been identified, Wolff replied: "Maybe."
Before you go...
Farcical conditions play havoc on Formula 1's return to Turkey
Russell handed back-of-the-grid start for Turkish GP
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Audi agree STAR driver contract as Mercedes driver tipped for new F1 seat THIS season - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Ferrari show off new-look drivers following HUGE announcement
- Yesterday 22:57
McLaren leading fight for HUGE cash injection
- Yesterday 21:57
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- Yesterday 17:57
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- Yesterday 20:57
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Incredible statistic puts Verstappen AHEAD of Hamilton record
Fierce rival calls Hamilton F1's GOAT in surprise admission
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860