Wolff confirms talks about Hamilton contract extension starting soon

Whereas last season it took Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff until deep into the winter break to hammer out all the details of the one-year contract extension, this time the Mercedes team boss doesn't want to let it get that far. Speaking to Formula1.com, Wolff says he wants to sit down to discuss a new contract sooner rather than later.

"We have learned our lesson [with the last contract]," the Austrian begins to the Official website of Formula 1. "When we left it until the Christmas break. That was definitely taking too far."

Wolff believes there are currently no obstacles to extending the contract with Hamilton, who previously appeared uncertain about his future in motorsport's premier class. “I think we are in a very good place and our relationship is growing stronger every year. It’s about time to give it a little nudge and start to speak and this is what we are going to do soon."

Wolff cannot yet give a definitive date for the announcement of a new contract with the Briton. He does have a diplomatic answer to offer instead: "I think we need to look into the season and how the next races unfold and then it is a judgement call I believe."