Lewis Hamilton could sign new Mercedes deal before Canadian GP, ​​says Toto Wolff | F1 news

Toto Wolff on Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes deal: „It will happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks. We are trying hard [to get it done before the Canadian Grand Prix]. I will see him today and we can talk about it. We have a good relationship.”

Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 future could be decided ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.

Hamilton has six months to sign a £40million-a-season deal with Mercedes, but Wolff says his superstar driver is on the brink of agreeing new terms.

„It’s going to happen quickly, we’re talking more days than weeks,” Wolff said on CNBC’s Squawk on the Street in New York when asked about Hamilton’s contract negotiations.

„We’re trying hard [to get it done before the Canadian Grand Prix]. I will see him today and we can talk about it.

„We have a good relationship, and we dread the moment we have to talk about money.”

Hamilton, 38, met with Wolff the day after the final round in Spain in the hope of rubber-stamping a new deal with the Silver Arrows.

The British driver’s extension is expected to be a multi-year deal, keeping him in F1 beyond his 40th birthday.

„Lewis is the most important personality in the game,” Wolff said.

“He’s versatile not only in racing but off the track, so we need to keep him in the game as much as possible.

„From a team perspective, Lewis and Mercedes go back a long time. He has never raced for any brand other than Mercedes.

„We both teamed up together in 2013, from a professional relationship, to now we have a friendship. It’s an amazing time.”

Hamilton, who has not won a race since his controversial championship loss to Max Verstappen in the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, is already 83 points off the pace for this year’s title.

But Mercedes’ recent progress has given Hamilton, who finished second to Red Bull’s Verstappen at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, renewed confidence that his dream of a record eighth world title is far from over.

However, Wolfe warned: „The Spanish result is a well-deserved reward for the efforts of everyone at Bragley and Brixworth to get our renewal package on track.

“We were delighted with how it worked out and it will give us a new baseline.

„But we have to manage our expectations. It’s a perfect circuit for our car and we have to expect our direct rivals to be strong in the next races.

„The gap to Red Bull is huge and it will take a lot of hard work to close. However, we are ready for the challenge.”