Wolff reveals that Mercedes has avoided long-term discussions with Hamilton

With their relationship nearing its conclusion, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has revealed that the Brackley-based squad has avoided meeting about long-term development with the seven-time champion.

Lewis Hamilton announced his shock departure from Mercedes on the 1st of February. The announcement caught the Formula One community by surprise, as the seven-time world champion was set to race for the Brackley-based outfit until the end of 2025.

However, an exit clause in his contract allowed Hamilton to leave the team in 2025 if he wished, and the Briton elected to terminate his contract at the end of the current season and seek for a new challenge at Ferrari next year.

Hamilton is statistically the most successful driver in the history of Formula One, tied with the great German seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher on the number of world championship titles.

Asked about how the relationship between Mercedes and Hamilton has been since the announcement, the German-British outfit’s team boss Toto Wolff has revealed that race weekends feel as normal, but the team is not discussing long-term developments with the seven-time world champion.

“I think we’re still running the season. So the weekends feel like they felt before. You know, these meetings where long-term development is being discussed, they don’t happen so regularly and we didn’t have them for the last few months. So it’s pretty much standard as it is.

“There is no overwhelming emotion now that this is ending, but I’m sure the closer it’s going to come to Abu Dhabi and the last sessions, the last race together will be quite a thing because we had this wonderful partnership for such a long time.

The Austrian jokingly said that while he wishes happiness to Hamilton, he also hopes that the seven-time world champion will not have a “too fast” car at his disposal.

“But having said that, Lewis is not going to disappear. Lewis is going to be on the grid next year with a Ferrari. We are not losing the person, we are just losing the driver.

“But we embark on a new future. We have an 18-year-old and a 27-year-old that are going to be our drivers. And that is super exciting. And at the same time, personally, we wish Lewis all the best and happiness. And maybe a car that’s not so fast. But nevertheless, it is a decision he took. And we’re OK with that,” concluded.