Toto Wolff has denied one of the latest rumours to hit the F1 paddock, with speculation emerging about Lewis Hamilton receiving an attractive contract offer from Ferrari.
Such talk is to be expected in the absence of updates on contract negotiations – especially between a partnership as successful as Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
The British driver has made clear on numerous occasions that he intends to continue in Formula 1, although the details of a new deal with the Brackley squad are unclear.
Arguably the biggest question mark surrounds how competitive Mercedes will be in the foreseeable future and whether they are capable of competing for a Championship.
An elusive eighth World title is evidently the priority for Hamilton, so having the necessary resources to attain this goal will be essential.
An underperforming W14 has raised concerns about the German squad’s chances of catching Red Bull as the reigning Champions continue to move forward in these new regulations.
In a recent interview with oe24, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff denied any suggestions that Hamilton is in talks with Ferrari:
“These rumours come up every two years when we have to sign a contract. But none of this is true.
“We will discuss [a contract renewal] normally, without any time pressure.
“I’m firmly convinced that we’ll find each other. There’s not a millimetre of doubt for me.
“I can’t imagine anything else. If we give Lewis a competitive car, he will win for a long time.
“Look at Tom Brady and what he was still capable of in his 40s.”
Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are proof that motivation and ability – rather than age – are the determining factors in the longevity of an F1 driver’s career.
Hamilton continues to perform at the highest level, so it is more than reasonable he can continue on the grid for several years.
All his declarations to the media indicate his priority is still Formula 1, although it is open to interpretation how long the British driver will tolerate machinery not capable of fighting for the Championship.
In any case, with an intense sequence of race weekends ahead, discussions about the driver market and contractual negotiations will continue to evolve.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
