Formula 1: Toto Wolff insists there is no issue with Lewis Hamilton contract delay
By Asher Fair
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team principal Toto Wolff insisted that there is no underlying issue delaying contract talks with four-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
Following comments made by Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner that he believes the reason that four-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport have not reached an agreement on a new contract is because of Hamilton’s money demands, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff responded.
Wolff, who previously stated that it was only a matter of if and not when as far as Mercedes signing Hamilton to a new contract goes, insisted that the team still play to sign Hamilton to a new contract and it is truly a matter of if and not when and that there is no pressure on either side to reach a new deal.
Here is what Wolff had to say about the matter, according to ESPN.
"“It’s a funny situation because we have been discussing for a long time. We get together and sort things out and then get busy in our daily operation jobs — us on the team side and Lewis on his preparation. It shows that we have great confidence in each other; nobody is pressuring each other. We haven’t set a fixed date where we want to announce but I can tell you that I don’t see a reason why this shouldn’t be happening.“It is in the process of just closing. There is a bit of an email ping-pong on details. I don’t want to set a date because then you will be asking me why, why hasn’t it been done, but maybe we choose one of the nice grands prix in the future, in the next couple of months.”"
Hamilton has driven for Mercedes since the start of the 2013 season, which was his seventh season as a full-time Formula 1 driver. He signed a three-year deal worth roughly $150 million in 2015 to remain with the team through the 2018 season. As a result, his contract is set to expire at the end of the year, and if he and Mercedes do not agree to a new deal, he is set to become a free agent.
More from Formula One
- Formula 1: Top Red Bull threat identified for 2024
- Formula 1: Why the Max Verstappen retirement obsession?
- Formula 1: Williams ‘mistake’ hints Logan Sargeant’s future
- Formula 1 awaiting key confirmation for 2024 season
- Formula 1: The ‘championship’ Max Verstappen only leads by 3 points
That said, the likelihood that Hamilton ends up becoming a free agent is still small. He is a four-time champion whose career Formula 1 win total (64) and pole total (74) rank second and first, respectively, all-time, and he is still in his prime, as he currently leads the Formula 1 championship standings.
With all of that it mind, it would be crazy to think that Mercedes would pass up on the opportunity to sign him to a new contract. It would seem that the only thing that could possibly prevent this would be Hamilton retiring.
Next: Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time
Given the fact that Toto Wolff is insisting that there is no issue behind the Lewis Hamilton’s contract delay, is it clear that it is truly a matter of if and not when Hamilton will end up agreeing to a new contract with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in the near future, or are there concerns, perhaps in regard to money, that Wolff is simply not revealing?