Toto Wolff does not fear that Mercedes will face a shortage of high-level Formula 1 drivers, despite young stars Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc signing long-term agreements with rival teams.
Leclerc’s new contract with Ferrari runs until 2024, while fellow 22-year-old Verstappen – who has been on Mercedes’ radar in the past – extended his deal with Red Bull until 2023.
While Mercedes is the big favorite to retain star driver Lewis Hamilton, he and teammate Valtteri Bottas are over 30 years old.
Asked about the recent contract extension for Leclerc and Verstappen, team leader Mercedes Wolff said Esteban Ocon and George Russell – two Mercedes-bound drivers contracted until 2021 with Renault and Williams respectively – as natural options on the whole line.
“Well, I think we have some very exciting young drivers who are part of the Mercedes family, like George Russell, who is a Mercedes junior driver, whom I foresee a bright future [for]”Said Wolff.
“Then we have Esteban who is not too far away, who is with Renault today, but he is today a cousin of the Mercedes family.
“And looking at Max and Charles, these guys will always strive to be in the fastest cars, and contracts are contracts, probably sometimes the detail is what is important and not the airline over time a contract has been signed [for].
“And so, I see our duty to supply and produce the car that is the fastest, and then we will have plenty of talent that will be willing and willing to drive these cars.”
The quadruple F1 champion Hamilton, linked to a possible move to Ferrari throughout 2019, has decided to reject the information that his discussions with Mercedes had not advanced well.
Wolff reiterated that he saw Hamilton continuing with Mercedes as the logical outcome, but noted that they had not negotiated over the winter.
“I think it’s the obvious match in the future,” said Wolff.
“We would like to have the fastest man in the car, and I know Lewis wants to be in the fastest car so there is an obvious mutual result.
“But you know, we travel the world almost 10 months a year.
“We get angry every two weekends. And what we do during the winter is that we leave ourselves alone.
“The last conversation I had with him was on the eve of Christmas.
“We had a nice conversation, that we could continue our chat or start or chat once he returns from America and we have started the season properly.
“I have great confidence in the team’s ability to attract the best drivers.
“And so far, Lewis has proven that he is the best driver today with six titles.
“And in the medium and long term, I hope we can continue to provide technology and attract the best driver.”
Toto Wolff does not fear that Mercedes will face a shortage of high-level Formula 1 drivers, despite young stars Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc signing long-term agreements with rival teams.
Leclerc’s new contract with Ferrari runs until 2024, while fellow 22-year-old Verstappen – who has been on Mercedes’ radar in the past – extended his deal with Red Bull until 2023.
While Mercedes is the big favorite to retain star driver Lewis Hamilton, he and teammate Valtteri Bottas are over 30 years old.
Asked about the recent contract extension for Leclerc and Verstappen, team leader Mercedes Wolff said Esteban Ocon and George Russell – two Mercedes-bound drivers contracted until 2021 with Renault and Williams respectively – as natural options on the whole line.
“Well, I think we have some very exciting young drivers who are part of the Mercedes family, like George Russell, who is a Mercedes junior driver, whom I foresee a bright future [for]”Said Wolff.
“Then we have Esteban who is not too far away, who is with Renault today, but he is today a cousin of the Mercedes family.
“And looking at Max and Charles, these guys will always strive to be in the fastest cars, and contracts are contracts, probably sometimes the detail is what is important and not the airline over time a contract has been signed [for].
“And so, I see our duty to supply and produce the car that is the fastest, and then we will have plenty of talent that will be willing and willing to drive these cars.”
The quadruple F1 champion Hamilton, linked to a possible move to Ferrari throughout 2019, has decided to reject the information that his discussions with Mercedes had not advanced well.
Wolff reiterated that he saw Hamilton continuing with Mercedes as the logical outcome, but noted that they had not negotiated over the winter.
“I think it’s the obvious match in the future,” said Wolff.
“We would like to have the fastest man in the car, and I know Lewis wants to be in the fastest car so there is an obvious mutual result.
“But you know, we travel the world almost 10 months a year.
“We get angry every two weekends. And what we do during the winter is that we leave ourselves alone.
“The last conversation I had with him was on the eve of Christmas.
“We had a nice conversation, that we could continue our chat or start or chat once he returns from America and we have started the season properly.
“I have great confidence in the team’s ability to attract the best drivers.
“And so far, Lewis has proven that he is the best driver today with six titles.
“And in the medium and long term, I hope we can continue to provide technology and attract the best driver.”
