Even though Lewis Hamilton has cleared the air by stating that he is close to signing a contract extension, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s recent comments are likely to have made fans guessing once again. The Austrian met with Scuderia Ferrari’s chairman John Elkann at the Monaco GP paddock on Friday and joked that the two discussed about drivers.
When asked if he discussed about Hamilton’s contract situation with Elkann, Wolff hilariously replied with a smile (as quoted by F1 reporter Piero Ladisa), “How do you know we did not talk about drivers?” When asked if he did, Wolff did not answer as he said, “Now I have to go. See ya”
Toto Wolff sibillino ai microfoni di Sky Sport F1: “Chi lo ha detto che non abbiamo parlato di piloti con John Elkann? Ora devo andare…”
📷 @andrewbensonf1#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/gyN6AlYB8J
— Piero Ladisa (@PieroLadisa) May 26, 2023
Lewis Hamilton opens up on his contract talks with Toto Wolff
In the build-up to the Monaco Grand Prix, most of the talk has surrounded about Lewis Hamilton‘s future. Several reports have stated that the Briton could potentially snub Mercedes and replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
These rumors gained so much steam that Hamilton was also asked about the same recently. In reply, the 38-year-old said that his team are working alongside Toto Wolff for a potential contract extension, and that it is only a matter of time before the two parties come to an agreement.
Most of these speculations are likely to have risen because of how Hamilton revealed his frustrations with his team at the start of the season. The Briton slammed his team at the start of the new campaign for not listening to him despite him having stated that there were several issues with the car.
While speaking on BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast in March, Hamilton said, “I have driven so many cars in my life. I know what a car needs, I know what a car does not need. I think it is really about accountability. It is about owning up and saying, ‘Yeah, you know what? We did not listen to you’“.
Charles Leclerc joins in the fun over Hamilton’s contract talks
Since there are rumors that Lewis Hamilton may join the Prancing Horse next season, current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was also asked about these ongoing speculations. The Monegasque hilariously began his reply during his press conference by looking at Hamilton and stating, “Hello Lewis“.
Leclerc was not done teasing his fans just then as he stated that if he says ‘yes,’ then his remarks would be the title of every newspaper. He then just ended his remarks by stating that every driver on the grid would like to have the Briton as a teammate as they will learn a lot from the seven-time Drivers’ Champion.
