Hamilton's F1 contract saga rolls on as mercedes gets major car upgrade
May 6 - Toto Wolff says he will sit down with Lewis Hamilton "in a few weeks" to sign a new Mercedes contract for the seven time world champion.
The Brackley based team initially looked competitive in Miami, only to fall a second off the pace in the second Friday practice session.
"It was like a punch in the stomach," said Hamilton, whose deal ends late this year. "It's not easy to accept such a gap.
"The car is similar to last year here."
A lot of hopes are now resting on a major car upgrade next time out at Imola, but boss Wolff says he is trying to "lower expectations".
"There's been so much talk about these upgrades that they seem to expect that we will suddenly be beating Red Bull by a lap," he said.
Nonetheless, Wolff says the package will include new front suspension, a new floor and other aerodynamic features.
"Due to the budget constraints, it's impossible to do a new chassis in the current season," he said. "With free upgrades, we'd be changing twice as much.
"Right now we can't say whether we'll be better there (at Imola) or not."
At the same time, Wolff doubts that Red Bull's even more restricted wind tunnel time as a result of last year's overspend saga will slow the dominant team down very much.
"They've had this penalty since October," he said, "and it hasn't really had an effect. That's not the way to make us competitive anyway."
Wolff told Kronen Zeitung newspaper that Red Bull is as dominant today as Mercedes was in 2016.
"In 2016 we won 19 races out of 21, mostly 1-2s," he said. "It's very similar at the moment.
"But Formula 1 is a meritocracy, and we have to acknowledge how good the Red Bull is in terms of driveability. They have a suspension that is really in another league."
On the driver front, however, Wolff thinks stability will be the order of the day - even though a new deal with 38-year-old Hamilton is long delayed.
"Everyone is reporting on this topic live," he told Sky Deutschland. "In a few weeks, we will meet up and sign the contract renewal."
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They've just had a month with no races, I suppose there just wasn't time to work on contracts though, Does anyone believe the Shit that Christian pedals anymore
He talks about not being able to do a new chassis with budgets blah blah , blah but Alpine have, Oh well........
Hey, Stroppy! Perhaps I'm mistaken, but wasn't it Tonto being quoted in the article above, or did I miss something? Who cares? I don't.
More importantly is your point about having a month off, and not having the time to sign off on The Dames contract. Sounds fishy to me. I suspect it may have to do with there being plenty of good, younger, talent in the Paddock, champing at the bit tto take Lucille's seat.
After all, Mick is the back-up driver, why not give him a whirl? Just because the shit chassis over at Haas couldn't handle the driver is no reason to bench they guy!
You are correct and not mistaken CE , Torger Christian Wolff, otherwise known as Toto, but you know me , I cant be doing with all the childish nicknames people give f1 staff, anyway yes Herr Wolff, is deliberately holding back on contracts, i'm guessing he wants to see if Crasher at Ferrari loses patience and wants out, I'm all for giving Mick a chance but as long as the driver lineup stays as it is, hes nochance , even to drive the car so hes prepared, which from Christian is not good management .
Sir Lewy, may be hanging back on signing, to see if another team makes him an offer, like De Vries, Charlie Leclerc has sent a few bits and pieces to wreckers, a vacancy at the Prancing Horse? watch that space?
The last thing Ferrari want and need is a whinger who wears dresses, Ive said my bit , hell retire in DEC 23 , I'm gonna keep saying it until it happens..........