Wolff admits Ricciardo could partner Hamilton

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff had admitted that, although he would like to keep Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas together at the Silver Arrows, there were 'exciting options' coming in 2019 and even named Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo as a driver who could be targetted for a seat.

Mercedes are coming off a season in which they won their fourth team championship in a row, whilst Hamilton also won his fourth driver's title.

The Englishman's current contract runs out at the end of 2018 and Wolff is eager to extend this for as long as possible, but Bottas' position may be under threat in the future as the Mercedes boss mentioned Ricciardo as a driver whose talent he admires.

"In so far as I would like the pairing [Hamilton and Bottas] to continue, we are committed to both of them in 2018 but having said that 2019 is a very exciting new year,” Wolff told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"There are young drivers that will have gained more experience and some of the very good ones like Daniel become free.

"And what we want to see is how the first third of the season pans out, whether our car is good enough and strong enough, and this is what we are actually concentrating on and then we will analyse and then take the right decisions hopefully."

Mercedes would need to be careful not to upset Hamilton, however, as he has previously been involved in feuds with former team-mates, Fernano Alonso and Nico Rosberg, with his relationship with Bottas proving to be much more productive.

"If you would have asked me the question one year ago I would have said having Lewis and Nico, two drivers who have a strong rivalry and are pushing each other and making the car faster," Wolff continued.

"But we have realised that the positive dynamics we had between Valtteri and Lewis in a difficult season like we had in 2017, was an asset.”