Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes continuing to offer the best car is the simplest route to ending Lewis Hamilton’s apparent interest in Ferrari.
Tuesday saw one of the biggest pieces of the 2020 Formula 1 grid be filled as Max Verstappen committed to Red Bull until 2023, ending speculation the Dutchman could switch to the German manufacturer.
It could also be a hint that perhaps Hamilton is much more likely to stay at Mercedes, given Max replacing the Briton was the most likely scenario.
But while ever the six-time champion doesn’t sign on the dotted line, Wolff knows anything could happen.
“Whatever we do in the future, the first conversation will always be with Lewis and Valtteri [Bottas] when we are discussing the future. We always handled it that way,” he told Motorsport-Total.
Also Read:
- Hamilton admits his & Mercedes’ success not possible without Lauda
- Hamilton & Mercedes anticipate three-team battle for victory in Australia
- Briatore tells Ferrari: Focus on Leclerc and the car, not Hamilton
“At the same time, you also have to accept that drivers have goals. Fundamentally, the best drivers will always try to be in the best car and we have it under our own control.
“As long as we can offer them the best possible package, Lewis won’t be very interested elsewhere to go.
“At the same time, we remain attractive for supposedly other top drivers in Formula 1, that will be our core task in the next six months.”
After six straight years of domination, however, Wolff is also aware that the competition from Ferrari and Red Bull is set to be its strongest yet in 2020.
“It’s fair to say that there are three teams capable of winning races today and probably winning championships if things are being put together,” the Austrian told Formula1.com.
“I don’t think we are going to see the kind of 10 race wins or 12 race wins per team any more. I see this very much as being a much tougher season.
“But obviously we will be trying everything to optimise our weaknesses and continue to perform well.”
