David Coulthard believes Toto Wolff has no say in Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton contract negotiations

David Coulthard believes Toto Wolff has no say in Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton contract negotiations
Toto Wolff and David Coulthard

While there are new rumors or theories emerging every passing day about Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton’s contract talks. Ex-F1 Driver Davis Coulthard reveals his opinion on this subject. Obviously, there is a lot that goes through the background of these contract negotiations, Coulthard has been part of some. Having said that, the financial implications induced by the Coronavirus pandemic make it even more difficult for Team Mercedes to fulfill Lewis Hamilton’s demands. 

Apparently, it feels like Mercedes are only delaying the contract negotiations because they feel Hamilton’s demands a little out of their budget. But the deal may already be close to completion if we can trust the words of Toto Wolff. But Coulthard feels Wolff has no say in the contract negotiation of the concerned parties. If that is the case, the question remains, will we have an official word soon as the pre-season testing in about to begin in Bahrain in over a month’s time. 

David Coulthard on Toto Wolff 

https://twitter.com/paylasformula1/status/1354112398509092868

“It is usually the team principal who is handling the negotiations and is empowered,” Coulthard told Express Sport. 

Though it is important to note that Toto Wolff is not just the Team Principal at Mercedes, he is also the 33% owner and an equal partner, along with Jim Ratcliffe and the Daimler group of the F1 division. However, the buck may not stop at the Austrian’s doorstep. 

“Lewis and Toto will have that conversation together and if Toto is not empowered to give Lewis what he wants then Lewis has the ability to go to Ola Kallenius at Daimler and say, ‘Ola, I want to do this deal, you are also the shareholders, can you make this happen?’” Coulthard explained. 

From there, they have the principal authority to decide the outcome of this deal, as narrated by DC, “Mercedes have the ability to add should they choose. 

“They also have the ability to say to Toto ‘we are not investing any more money in the drivers than we did last year. If Lewis wants more money, the answer from our side is no – you have to go and find it from somewhere else’.” 

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