• F1

  • Drivers

Lewis Hamilton News

News

  • News
  • Results
  • Previous Seasons
More from F1
  • F1 Home
  • Drivers

Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff provides contract talks update

Lewis Hamilton remains without a Mercedes contract for F1 2021, but Toto Wolff remains confident deal will be done soon; Mercedes co-owner reveals he quarantined after contracting coronavirus earlier this month

By James Galloway

Last Updated: 26/01/21 12:55pm

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he remains in the process of contract negotiations with Lewis Hamilton and is confident a new deal will be struck before pre-season testing in March.

Hamilton's previous two-year agreement expired at the end of December, meaning the seven-time title winner finds himself in the unusual position of being out of contract less than two months before the new season is scheduled to begin.

Speaking in Austria over the weekend, Wolff - who revealed he had contracted coronavirus earlier this month and had now completed a period of quarantine - said the talks were continuing to take time between F1's champion team and driver.

  • New F1 boss Domenicali on Hamilton's 'incredible' opportunity

"We don't make life easy for them, of course, when we both argue over Zoom and keep sending curveballs to the lawyers," said Wolff to Austrian broadcaster ORF.

"He's in America now and I'm here. At some point we will finalise it (the deal)."

Cross country skiing at 2000m. This is one of the greatest workouts Iโ€™ve discovered over the years. Feeling so focused. Finding peace and tranquility in all I do and never giving up! Sending you big waves of energy๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿพ pic.twitter.com/PX9XCxcZCU

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) January 22, 2021

We have to assume that @LewisHamilton is relentlessly marching up snowy mountains on skis in anticipation of a hard season of F1 racing, and not just to be ready for #SkyF1 โ€˜s totally comprehensive F1 coverage..

— Martin Brundle ๐Ÿ’™ (@MBrundleF1) January 25, 2021

By 'curveballs', Wolff is understood to have meant new areas to explore arising from the contract negotiations rather than unexpected obstacles or hitches.

Mercedes and Hamilton, who have been in tandem to hugely-successful effect since 2013, have remained relaxed about the contract discussions amid the expectation from both sides that a new deal will ultimately be agreed.

Wolff also ruled out using George Russell's impressive performance deputising for Hamilton at the Sakhir GP as leverage in negotiations.

"We have a really solid basis in our relationship. We have celebrated great successes together and want to continue doing so in the future," added Wolff.

"But sometimes you have to talk things out in detail, and that took or still takes us some time."

Pre-season testing starts in Bahrain on March 12, with the season's first race at the same venue on March 28.

Speaking at the Kitzbuehel Alpine skiing World Cup downhill, Wolff said he had shown no symptoms after testing positive for Covid-19 in his homeland earlier in January.

Also See:

  • Domenicali on Hamilton's big opportunity
  • The 2021 Formula 1 calendar

"We had planned to be here for a few days and out of nowhere I got a positive coronavirus test," said Wolff.

"But everything's fine...it could have gone badly, but we're out of quarantine."

Trending

  • 1
    Mourinho enraged by Solskjaer's Son comments
  • 2
    Where Henderson has the edge on De Gea
  • 3
    Tottenham condemn racist abuse of Son after Man Utd defeat
  • 4
    Khan: Benn fight doesn't make sense
  • 5
    Rodgers 'bitterly disappointed' over Leicester trio's Covid breach
  • 6
    Cavani, Kane, Haaland: Who should be Man Utd's striker?
  • 7
    Redknapp: Jose's Spurs a tough watch | Keane: Give him time
  • 8
    Harry Kane: The Sky pundits on his future
  • 9
    Lingard double as West Ham hold on to go fourth
  • 10
    FREE LIVE GOLF: Amen Corner at The Masters
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • NFL
    • Olympics
    • Tennis
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NBA
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • MMA
    • More Sports
  • Scores
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Kick It Out
    • Black Lives Matter
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Contact Us
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports Racing
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Group
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Work @ Sky Sports
    • NOW TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Privacy Options
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

©2021 Sky UK