“We Avoid Talking to Each Other”: Uncomfortable Money Talks With Lewis Hamilton Halts Toto Wolff’s Plans for Mercedes Revival

Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 and went on to create history with the Brackley-based outfit. With Toto Wolff in charge of the team, Hamilton won six drivers’ championships and helped the Silver Arrows win seven constructors’ titles. This dominant era, however, came to an end in 2022 leading to the rise of tensions between Hamilton and Wolff.

Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes ends this season, and he still hasn’t penned a new deal. It is widely reported that he will extend his stay at Mercedes, but Wolff’s recent comments don’t sound convincing enough. The Austrian feels that for the first time in their partnership, they have appeared at crossroads, which is stalling the negotiations between the two parties.

Wolff wants to prioritize the future of Mercedes because helping the team reach the top again is his main goal. Hamilton asking for a huge bumper deal does not align with the financial security that Wolff has in mind for the team.

Talking money with Lewis Hamilton makes Toto Wolff uncomfortable

Currently, Hamilton earns about $36 million per year from his Mercedes contract, as per The Mirror. With his deal expiring later this year, the 38-year-old insists that he wants to continue working with Wolff. Unfortunately, Wolff is not ready to offer Hamilton a significant pay raise.

Wolff and Hamilton have worked closely for a long time, and the former even feels that they are close friends. The dynamic he shares with his star driver makes it uncomfortable for Wolff to discuss the financial details of the contract with him. Instead, he discusses issues like salary with Hamilton’s agent Penni.

Back to school. Lewis headed to Imperial College London this week to visit the PETRONAS Global Technology Centre. 💚

LH saw how PETRONAS is working with Imperial to develop green technologies and met some of the PETRONAS funded Malaysian students studying in the UK. 📚🧪 pic.twitter.com/OL4u0hVbWV

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) May 18, 2023

In an interview with ESPN, he says, “After all, it’s hard to talk about money with ‘your partner’. Penni helps us in that situation and keeps us in check. We’ve found a good working method for negotiating. We avoid talking to each other about money, but we both talk about it with Penni.” 

Hamilton and Wolff have different goals

Hamilton is a seven-time world champion who is determined to win his eighth title to move clear of Michael Schumacher before he retires. However, Mercedes isn’t the same team it was three years ago, and they are a long way away from becoming championship contenders once again.

This is why Wolff admits that for the first time ever, Hamilton shares different priorities than him. For Mercedes, it is important to slowly pick themselves back up again, but to reach the summit, they need time. Hamilton unfortunately, doesn’t have that time.

Yes! That’s P2 for @LewisHamilton after a chaotic stop-start Australian GP. 👏 pic.twitter.com/JagGX0zTV9

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) April 2, 2023

“This might be the first time in 10 or 11 years that we’re together and our goals have diverged,” he said.

Currently, Hamilton is fourth in the 2023 drivers’ standings with 56 points to his name. His best finish so far came in the form of a P2 finish at the Australian GP last month.