Wolff does not expect tough contract negotiations with Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton's contract expires at the end of 2023 and the seven-time world champion will then be free to go wherever he wants. However, there is a very real chance that Hamilton will 'just' extend his contract at Mercedes. Toto Wolff does not expect contract talks with the 38-year-old driver to take too long.

In recent weeks, Wolff and Hamilton have not seen each other. Only in the next few weeks will the men meet again physically, but whether that will also directly address the Briton's contract situation is uncertain. Wolff and Hamilton's priority is to get the 2023 season off to the best possible start in Bahrain. Yet Wolff certainly does not rule it out, as he says it all does not have to take so long.

“We have a full year to go," Wolff acknowledged to Autosport.com. However, the Austrian team boss and Hamilton are on completely the same page. “In the last 10 years our relationship has grown that it's just a matter of him physically being back in Europe, sticking our heads together, wrestling a bit and then leaving the room with white smoke after a few hours.”

New contract length Hamilton

The big question is for how many years Hamilton will re-sign. In 2021, he signed for another two years. So that we will see Hamilton back in Formula 1 in 2024 seems a certainty, but whether we will still be able to admire the record champion in 2025 in the king class of motorsport remains to be seen for now. Hamilton, if he joins for two years, would be 40 years old at the last race in 2025.