Wolff admits off-season 'less stressful' than last year

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted that the end-of-season break has been much less stressful this year than last, as at the end of the 2016 campaign he was forced to find a new driver for the Silver Arrows due to Nico Rosberg's shock, abrupt retirement.

Rosberg won his first and only world championship two seasons ago, only to announce he would not be continuing with Mercedes. The Finn did not have a good relationship with Lewis Hamilton during that year and it led to plenty of arguments on and off the track, with Wolff having to step in to mend things with Hamilton who would be staying on with Mercedes.

With both the driver's and constructor's titles in the bag and Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas looking a solid partnership again for next year, Wolff admits this year has been less dramatic whilst reserving praise for their champion.

"It's definitely less stressful than last year," Wolff insisted.

"But who knows what's coming in the next few days!"

"His [Hamilton] performance [in 2017] was unbelievable. He does not lack motivation even after four championships.

"I feel like he's seeing that Michael Schumacher's seven titles are within reach," he added

"We'll do everything we can to give him the car to do that."

Wolff also confirmed that Niki Lauda is set to spend more time with Mercedes in his advisory role to help them to five championships in a rather than focusing on his media career.

"It was a very personal decision," Wolff commented on Lauda leaving media work.

"His role on the Mercedes supervisory board had nothing to do with it.

"The good thing for us is that he now has more time, Although in the past, he was always the first into the paddock. When Niki gets to the motor home, the cleaners are normally still at work!