Mercedes has "variations" available for 2022 F1 driver line-up - Toto Wolff

Mercedes

Mercedes has "variations" available for 2022 F1 driver line-up - Wolff

Russell and Ocon come into the equation alongside Hamilton and Bottas

GPFans Staff

Monday 22 February 2021 17:10

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has revealed he has "variations" available to him with regard to his 2022 driver line-up.

Mercedes go into the upcoming season with an unchanged pairing of seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for the fifth successive year.

Both drivers, however, are out of contract at the end of the campaign as Hamilton only recently signed a one-year extension with the team, while Bottas is on a rolling one-year deal.

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Wolff also has the luxury of Mercedes junior George Russell at his disposal as the Briton enters the final season of a three-year contract with Williams.

Another possibility is Esteban Ocon who is contracted for Alpine for this year, but is managed by Mercedes.

"Ocon is in the second year of a two-year contract with Renault or Alpine F1 this year, Russell is with Williams this year," Wolff told Speedweek.

"So there are some variations for 2022, but until then our full support goes to Valtteri and Lewis.

"We will evaluate in the middle of the year whether there will be a change in 2022. It is surely too early now to talk about scenarios for 2022."

Wolff has again reiterated there is no hidden agenda in the fact Hamilton only signed for one year rather than two or three seasons.

While the matter has been endlessly speculated upon, Wolff has insisted the reason "was simply a lack of time" due to a variety of factors.

"We negotiated for the first time just before Christmas," added Wolff. "A multi-year contract is more complex than one for one season.

"So we said we'd sign this deal for a year now and see later. Everything is currently open to both sides after 2021."