Lewis Hamilton rejected contract discussions despite meeting the marque’s president team Principal Toto Wolff reveals

Finally, ahead of last month’s Italian Grand Prix, it was reported that Hamilton had signed a two-year agreement to stay with Mercedes with George Russell.

Wolff explains that Hamilton informed him that he had seen Ferrari president John Elkann, but that he was not interested in leaving the Brackley-based team.

“There was a bit of a delay, but it was clear that it would end like this, with Lewis staying with us,” Wolff explained to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Not long ago, Lewis told me, ‘I saw John Elkann at dinner but know I’m not going anywhere.'” When they published about his conversation with Ferrari, he remarked, “Toto, I’m not carrying out any negotiations.”

“I never had a single doubt in my mind.” And then we have George, who is the future of this team and the next generation after Hamilton, who grew up in Mercedes, for another two seasons.

Wolff concluded, “We are pleased.
Mercedes is presently competing for second position in the Constructors’ Championship with Ferrari. With only five rounds remaining in 2023, the former title rivals are separated by only 28 points.

The Silver Arrows narrowly extended their lead last time out in Qatar, but they were unable to capitalize on their pace advantage over Ferrari, as their two cars collided at Turn 1.

Hamilton was sent spinning into the gravel and out of the race, while Russell was forced to pit at the end of that lap to replace his broken front wing, dropping him to last.

The lone remaining Mercedes in the 57-lap race would finally use a daring four-stop strategy to recover to fourth, beating out Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Ferrari battled for pace all weekend at the Lusail International Circuit, and only competed with one vehicle in the race due to Carlos Sainz’s car experiencing a fuel-system malfunction before the cars went to the grid.