© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Amid speculation around Lewis Hamilton’s future post 2021, Toto Wolff says Lewis staying at Mercedes is “the logical continuation of the story“.
Since it was announced in January that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton agreed on a one-year deal for 2021, a lot has been said about Lewis’ Formula 1 future.
With many reading different things into the announcement, Hamilton and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff have maintained that the short-term deal was struck because they lacked time to negotiate a longer-term deal in time for 2021 pre-season testing. Both parties agreed to start negotiations for beyond 2021 earlier than last year.
At the Bahrain Grand Prix Friday press conference Wolff said he wants his driver line-up confirmed earlier than January 2022.
“We don’t want to leave it until January to confirm the two drivers,” the Austrian explained.
“Valtteri [Bottas] was pretty regular during the summer, this is when it should happen. Also, to give the driver peace-of-mind, or be able to concentrate on the job.
“And obviously for next year there’s lots of balls in the air and we will always try to do the best for the team long-term, while also giving total loyalty to our current driver line-up.
“We are not doubting either Valtteri or Lewis, but discussions obviously are going to happen – but not in January next year.
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With Lewis indicating he doesn’t intend to retire anytime soon, Wolff was asked if he expects the Briton to stay with Mercedes in 2022.
“I very much hope so,” said Mercedes’ team boss.
“The journey that we have had together was very successful. He has been a Mercedes driver – a Mercedes kid since his go-karting years.
“He never raced a single weekend in Formula 1 without Mercedes power unit, so it’s the logical continuation of the story.
Recently, McLaren CEO Zak Brown joined the ‘Lewis Hamilton’s future’ debate and said he believes Mercedes’ line-up in 2022 will consist of Max Verstappen and George Russell, adding that Lewis Hamilton’s return to McLaren would not be an option.
At the Friday press conference Zak Brown, Toto Wolff and Red Bull team boss Christian Horner were asked about this speculation. While Brown and Horner continued to debate, Toto just said:
“I want to keep out of the discussion that these two have about who’s going to drive the Mercedes.”
