Wolff takes back words about choice of second driver: "That was a wind up"

There was a lot of talk last winter about Mercedes' driver line-up and it is unlikely to be any different for this season. This year Mercedes waited until February to confirm that Lewis Hamilton's contract would be extended. After difficult negotiations Toto Wolff can now laugh about that.

Earlier this weekend he said that it will take a long time before the drivers for 2022 will be confirmed. Maybe even until February, was his estimation. A day later he said to The Race that he said this to fuck up the situation. "It was a wind-up because we get asked this question so often", he said.

While it may not be until well into the winter, a decision is still some time away. "Two drivers for one seat. Two drivers that still can have a great career in Formula 1. I want to just see Valtteri’s full potential this year, and continue to observe George in driving for Williams and handling their situation.”

So if anything changes at Mercedes, the arrival of George Russell as Valtteri Bottas ' replacement is the most logical option. But as Hamilton's contract also expires at the end of the year, Wolff is not ruling out other driver combinations just yet. "We need two drivers that are racing right there, who are performing at the maximum of their ability", he said.