The mood at Mercedes remains muddled. Questions over the contract of seven-time Word Champion Lewis Hamilton persist, and the significance of the new Mercedes upgrades have been contradicted internally.
So far this season Lewis Hamilton has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons – no doing on his part.
Hamilton has attracted worldwide attention after various sightings with pop-star Shakira, but the Englishman has also been linked with an illustrious move to Italian giants Ferrari.
Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of the season and team principal Toto Wolff has changed his stance regarding the progression of negotiations.
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Wolff recently went back on his comments which suggested the team were “100% committed” to keeping Hamilton.
Now it appears things have taken an abrupt turn.
“I want the best for him, but in that role I need the best for the team. That can be the only time in our 10 or 11 years when we are together and our objectives diverge.” said Wolff.
George Russell and Toto Wolff have conflicting opinions on upgrades
With Hamilton and Wolff apparently far off in their negotiations, one would assume the harmony in the camp exists with George Russell.
However, questions over the impact of Mercedes’ upgrades have been reworked, rewritten, and dismissed.
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On the one side of the Mercedes sea-saw, you have Toto Wolff – adamant that the upgrade package meant for Imola was a substantial one.
On the opposite side is George Russell, insistent that they aren’t to expect much.
Nonetheless, the situation at Mercedes may seem calamitous but upgrades are imminent, and Lewis Hamilton’s manager, Penni Thow, has been able to act as a middleman to alleviate the awkwardness of negotiations.