Mercedes "values" Lewis Hamilton's opinion on who should be his teammate in 2022, team boss Toto Wolff says.
The reigning champions are facing a big decision on whether to retain Valtteri Bottas for what would be his sixth season or put faith in youth by promoting junior driver George Russell from Williams.
The momentum is very much in Russell's corner, after his strong performance for Mercedes standing in for Hamilton at last year's Sakhir Grand Prix, and also as Bottas struggles for consistency.
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However, recently, Hamilton suggested he saw no need to replace the "fantastic" Finn next year, leading to questions on how much his view might sway Mercedes' decision.
“We have never discussed preferences or not about the line-up,” Wolff told Sky Sports on if power over who his teammate is, comes up in Hamilton contract talks. “That is never something that’s part of his thinking.”
That being said, Wolff admits Hamilton is included in the process when a driver call needs to be made.
“Lewis is part of the team and has always been in the inner circle of decision making because simply we value his opinion,” he said.
“And in the same way, when we’re talking about drivers there is nothing we are not sharing with him, it’s transparent.
“But the other way around too, when I speak to Valtteri, it is open. When I speak to George, it is very much open because I don’t want to have any hidden agendas.
“We need to evaluate the situation for the future and whatever decision we will be taking, Valtteri or George, the person that’s involved in that will be hearing that first - and that is the driver.”
Asked what Bottas had to do to retain his seat, Wolff replied: “I think Valtteri knows that the only answer to these rumours is to perform on track.
"Drive cars fast on Saturday and Sunday. If he does that, he puts himself in a very good situation for next year."
