Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he expects Lewis Hamilton to remain with the team on a multi-year contract. The Briton's current deal expires at the end of this season, with Mercedes already keen on discussing new terms with the four-time world champion.
Hamilton joined the Silver Arrows in 2013, a time when the move dumbfounded some people who believed it was the wrong choice. However, after wrapping up his third world title for the team, Wolff hopes that Hamilton will continue to race with the German giant,
"I don't think it's going to happen, but you never know," he told the Austrian broadcaster ORF when asked if Hamilton could suddenly quit the sport. "We didn't expect anything like that in 2016, but then came the call from Nico [Rosberg, who unexpectedly retired]."
Bottas "a solid number 2" driver
1997 champion Jacques Villeneuve has given his thoughts on Valtteri Bottas' maiden campaign with Mercedes. The Finn joined at the start of 2017, replacing Rosberg. However, he couldn't find the form to mount a title challenge, leaving Villeneuve to describe his year as "almost embarrassing".
"Mercedes won because they still have the best engine, but only Hamilton was able to take advantage of it. Bottas' performance was almost embarrassing," Villeneuve told Auto Bild. "He is a solid number 2 and no more. I would have chosen Wehrlein."
Fergal Walsh
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I don't even understand the rumors, what could possibly attract Hamilton to leaven Mercedes. A team that has given him both a high salary (which only Ferrari could match) and freedom (which Ferrari would never ever allow) to spend time off racing with self-promotion and building his so-called brand.