Toto Wolff gives key insights into Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s ‘structurally different’ Mercedes contracts

Toto Wolff does not see both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell leaving Mercedes at the end of 2025.

Toto Wolff gives key insights into Lewis Hamilton and George Russell’s ‘structurally different’ Mercedes contracts

Lewis Hamilton, Toto Wolff and George Russell (Via IMAGO)

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell recently pinned down new deals at Mercedes that are going to keep the prolific duo together for at least two more years. While all the parties are pretty excited about the outcome, Toto Wolff has talked about some key aspects of both drivers’ new contracts with the team.

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes contract saga was going on from the start of the season. In contrast, there was not a lot known regarding the internal negotiations about George Russell’s contract. While Mercedes has sorted the contract talks of both its drivers in one go, Toto Wolff has admitted it is unlikely that both would leave at the end of 2025.

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While shedding light on the same, in detail, the Mercedes boss said, as reported by Silverarros.net, “No, in a way, we have different structures of contract also because George has been with us since he was a junior driver. I believe in the fact that, if it’s of benefit for both parties, then you’re staying together.”

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He further added, “We need to make a quick car. We need a quick driver, and I do it like a very famous football coach once told me, – if a good player wants to go elsewhere, then he’s never stopped him going elsewhere. When somebody wants to move, either the team or the driver, then you’ve just got to move.”

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Toto Wolff has got one of the best driver lineups in F1

Toto Wolff (Credits: CBS Sport)
Toto Wolff (Credits: CBS Sport)

While Toto Wolff has applauded his current F1 driver lineup, he is immensely pleased with having Lewis Hamilton and Georg Russell at Mercedes for a few more years. The duo is easily one of the best driver pairs on the current grid and can lead the Brackley-based team toward World Championships in the upcoming years.

However, as mentioned by Wolff himself, the Mercedes crew would need to produce a potent car in the upcoming years of the sport. Otherwise, it would get extremely difficult for them to hold onto its current driver line-up. While the ongoing season is out of the question, the team would need to step their game up in 2024 massively.

Mercedes has had a lot of learning since the dawn of the new F1 regulations, and it is a common belief that they would challenge the lights of Max Verstappen and Co. next year. But, it will not be easy considering the might of Red Bull cars since the start of the 2022 F1 season.

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