Wolff confirms contract talks with Hamilton will start this month

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed contract negotiations with star driver Lewis Hamilton will start this month, with the reigning champion's deal running out at the end of the year.

Hamilton has won five of the last six drivers' championships available with Mercedes, with then-teammate Nico Rosberg clinching the other one in 2016. The Brit can equal Michael Schumacher's record number of seven titles this year, with der Rekordmeister's legendary win total of 91 also being up for grabs in 2020.

The last time Hamilton's contract was due for renewal back in 2018, negotiations went on for a long time and it wasn't until July that pen was put to paper on a new two-year deal.

It could be another long wait for Hamilton's new contract as Wolff revealed the talks haven't really started yet as he recalls the last time they spoke.

“The last time we met was at the Christmas party, we chatted a bit about the future," the Austrian told Auto Motor und Sport. 

"Since then we have only talked on WhatsApp. If you're on top of each other for ten months, it is important to also refrain from doing so. That's why we decided to leave ourselves alone in December and January. When it [F1] starts again in February, we will sit down and discuss."

Wolff knows that a driver of Hamilton's level will always have teams queueing up for him should contract negotiations break down, but he counters that point smartly.

“As a driver at his level, Lewis always has options. The same goes for us. As long as we build a fast car, we will always be in a situation where we can choose the drivers.”

Still, the businessman is confident a deal will eventually be struck with the 35-year-old.

"No matter how hard it was, in the end there was always a handshake. Lewis wants to drive the fastest car and we want the best driver."