Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has insisted that Lewis Hamilton's new contract merely needs to be signed and dated following speculation Ferrari would attempt to steal him.
Hamilton's current deal will expire at the end of the season and the Silver Arrows are keen to bring him back next year. It has been a difficult few seasons for the team since Hamilton's last title win in 2020, though he does sit fourth in this year's standings.
The Englishman's future took a fresh twist in the build-up to last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix with reports Ferrari could mount a move to bring Hamilton to the Scuderia. Both Wolff and Hamilton have played down those rumours though.
And the Mercedes team principal has insisted that things remain on track for Hamilton to put pen to paper. Wolff revealed that he just needs to meet with his star driver in order for the contract to be signed and dated.
Asked by Channel 4 if Hamilton's move to Ferrari was happening, Wolff replied: “No, not happening. We just need to put the date on the contract and sign it. We didn’t see each other these last few days."
Over the weekend, Wolff played down any suggestion that Hamilton would enter into talks with Ferrari. He insisted that his team had formed a pact with Hamilton to ensure that Mercedes were in pole position to tie him down to a new deal.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Lewis Hamilton sign a new contract with Mercedes? Comment below.
"We've had a pact - and we've had that since many, many years - that we wouldn't talk to any other driver before we have taken a decision to stay together or not, so I was never a millimetre in doubt that there were any discussions," Wolff told Sky Sports.
"Someone just placed that (story), maybe to, in a way, to play a role in what seemed to be negotiation, but it is not negotiation, it is sitting at a table and saying, 'what is it we need to adapt to in the contract?' So there's nothing to it.
"The contract was ready in 2013, we've never really changed a lot of words in there… just the dates and the number of marketing days. I think that how it is at the moment with us, we're in a super happy position with Lewis. There weren't any stumbling blocks with the contract negotiations."
Hamilton recovered from a difficult Saturday to finish fourth in the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. The Englishman has only claimed one podium this term with Red Bull dominanting the campaign.
The next race will come this weekend at the Circuit de Cataluyna for the Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton will hope to continue the form that has seen him secure a top six position in every race this season.
With a busy schedule over the next two months, Mercedes may hold off until August to finally confirm Hamilton's new contract.
READ MORE:
