Mercedes boss Toto Wolff preferred not to address a possible renewal of Lewis Hamilton, who still has a contract with the team until the end of next season
As Formula 1 reaches its halfway point and some drivers confirm where they will be in 2023 - such as Pierre Gasly, who will continue for another year at AlphaTauri - rumors about competitors' contracts are once again swirling around the paddock. With a car far from title contention in 2022, Mercedes will still have another year on Lewis Hamilton's contract in 2023. But what about after that? Boss Toto Wolff preferred not to answer.
"Are we going to start talking about the 2024 contracts? In June 2022?" questioned Wolff. "No, we are in a happy moment with Lewis [Hamilton] and there is no doubt that we will embark this season and next season in a good place. But it's too early to discuss 2024. That said, I couldn't wish for a better marriage in a [driver] duo," he stressed.
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The Austrian, Mercedes' boss, also took the opportunity to praise the way in which Hamilton interacts with the team, as well as the relationship between the two teammates. However, aware of what he experienced in 2016 with the explosive relationship between Lewis and Nico Rosberg, Wolff admitted that the situation would be different if the two were rivals for the championship.
"I can say that within the team, Hamilton has always had a very positive mentality," Wolff praised. "It's fascinating how the two [Hamilton and Russell] work together. In meetings, they are always asking each other something. I think it will be different if they are racing at the front," acknowledged the Mercedes boss.
So far, Russell has been doing better with the deficient W13 that Mercedes built for 2022: he has 111 points, which takes him to the fourth place - even ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz - the only one in condition to dispute the title with Red Bull. Hamilton, in turn, has 77 and occupies the sixth place, just behind the Spaniard.
The next round of Formula 1 takes place next weekend, with the British GP at the traditional Silverstone Circuit, scheduled to take place between July 1 and 3.