Mercedes Toto Wolff left feeling ’embarrassed’ in Lewis Hamilton contract talks

Toto Wolff has revealed it is “embarrassing” to discuss contract details with Lewis Hamilton with a deal yet to be signed. Hamilton has not put pen to paper on a new contract at Mercedes despite his current agreement expiring at the end of the season.

The pair were expected to sit down and agree a new deal over the winter but this failed to materialise. Providing a rare update on the talks, Wolff hinted that much of the delay was due to the embarrassment of discussing financial terms.

According to Motorsport-Total.com, Wolff said: “It’s super embarrassing. Every three years, we know that we have this moment. And it’s like negotiating the financial terms with your best friend with a close friend. How do you go about it?

“Normally, you don’t have a situation like that. I want the best for him, but in this role, I need the best for the team. It may be the only time in our ten or eleven years that we’re together and our goals diverge.”

Hamilton is understood to be after a “multi-year” deal which could see him commit to the sport until the end of 2025. The silence around Hamilton’s future has led some pundits to predict Hamilton could walk away from the German marque.

The seven-time champion has been linked with a move to Ferrari as Mercedes continue to struggle for pace. Sky Sports host Martin Brundle felt Hamilton could allow himself “one more roll of the dice” at another squad.

Meanwhile, Eddie Jordan suggested Hamilton needed a challenge and felt a move to Ferrari would be what F1 “needed”. But, Hamilton has refused to be drawn into the rumours and has repeatedly pledged his allegiance to the Silver Arrows.

He wasn’t even phased by suggestions that Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was supposedly in talks with Mercedes. The Monegasque failed to rule out a move but did confirm he had not held talks with Wolff at this stage.

When asked if the links affected his own agreement, Hamilton said: “No, not really, I think maybe some of the drivers all have different relationships with different bosses and stuff.

“I like where I am, I love my team, and I’m grateful for the journey we’ve been on and what we’re working on moving forwards. So, it doesn’t have any impact, no.”