Toto Wolff all but confirms Mercedes line-up for next season

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has all but decided upon Mercedes' driver line-up for next season, stating that Lewis Hamilton's new deal will be confirmed 'very, very soon', while team-mate Valtteri Bottas is also in line for an extended stay with the team.

Hamilton's contract saga has dragged on for more than a year now with nothing yet signed, with the delay thought to be on the legnth of the deal and also how much the Brit will earn per year.

It is thought Hamilton is demanding an unprecedented £40m per season over a two year term with the option of a third, with the threat of the four-time world champion walking away from the sport altogether should he not reach an agreement.

But now it appears that both parties are happy, and although speculation last week suggested that the announcement would be made during this weekend's French Grand Prix, Wolff has said it is simply a matter of time.

He said to Sky Sports: "Very, very soon. We don’t want to drag it out much longer. I expect it to be done very, very soon.”

And as far as Wolff is concerned, he sees no reason to alter the line-up for next season in any way, which means Bottas, who is also out of contract at the end of the year, is line for a new deal, with the Finn stating his preference to be given a two-year rather than a one-year extension.

Wolff added:“Valtteri is doing an exceptional job. At the moment there is no reason to change the line-up.”

Wolff's announcement all but ends speculation that Daniel Ricciardo, who has been the subject of much speculation as his deal with Red Bull expires at the end of the year, could move to Mercedes, narrowing his options.