02 September 2023 , 13:36
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Toto Wolff explained why Lewis Hamilton was not offered a longer Mercedes contract after previous hints that a five-year deal was being sought.
The Brit has committed his immediate future to the team by putting pen to paper on an extension. His previous contract was due to expire at the end of this season, but now he has committed to spending at least an extra two years racing for the Silver Arrows.
The length came as a surprise given previous statements made about the term being sought by Hamilton. Despite approaching his 40s, the seven-time world champion has hinted that his Formula 1 career might still have five or perhaps even more years left to run.
So a commitment of only two more years with Mercedes was an eye-catching detail of the new deal. Sky Sports presenter Naomi Schiff brought it up as the broadcaster spoke with Wolff at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
Asking why the deal is perhaps a little shorter than expected, the team principal explained why Mercedes were not willing to commit to a longer term at this point. He said: "We already signed in May but we didn't tell anybody. Keep a bit of suspense.
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"In all seriousness, we knew that we had an agreement, not only emotionally but on paper many weeks ago but it was just you get lawyers on the case and they find stuff. I think it comes from, in a way both sides in this day and age, things change. This is a dynamic environment.
"Signing a five-year contract means that you need to discuss is there any escape clause in case we are not providing him with a car that is performing. So we didn't entertain that. We said the foreseeable future is two years and that's what we are committing to each other."
George Russell has also committed his future to the team for the same amount of time. Asked if Mercedes had considered other options – Martin Brundle namechecked Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc as he posed the question – Wolff's answer was clear.
He said: "No. I've always said that when we renew, I don't want to flirt outside if I have a good relationship, and only when I see that things are not going in the right direction then I would test the market, but I didn't do it."