Mercedes not thinking of Plan B in case Hamilton quits F1
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has made it clear he is not considering a Plan B option for his team if Lewis Hamilton retires from Formula 1 at the end of this year.
Hamilton's contract with Mercedes runs out after this season, and the team and driver have yet to settle on an agreement to extend it.
While there had been some hope of the matter quickly getting sorted over last winter, the discussions have been put on hold until Wolff and Hamilton can set aside a suitable time for talks to take place.
But with no firm commitment from Hamilton about his plans for 2024, Mercedes could be exposed to having no suitable replacement available if the seven-time world champion makes a late call to not continue.
Mercedes wants Hamilton to commit to a fresh deal, but Wolff has insisted that he is so relaxed about the situation that he was not even thinking about any fallback options.
Speaking exclusively to Autosport about the Hamilton situation, Wolff said: "I think it may sound naive, but I really struggle to think of a Plan B, if my Plan A is still the one that is my favourite.
"I don't want to engage in discussions with other drivers, because I'm happy with the ones that are in the team, that's for sure. At the moment, there is no Plan B. It's Lewis."
While Wolff acknowledged that it would not be ideal if Mercedes had to scramble around for a new driver later this year if Hamilton did elect to quit, he was confident such a late call would not happen.
"I think that he would tell us early enough," added Wolff. "I don't think that Lewis would say: 'I can't do this anymore. I'm out of here tomorrow.'
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG, with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
"He would always feel the responsibility for the team. He wouldn't leave the team alone. Drivers can always take decisions [like that], but he wouldn't let us down.
"But then, I think if you believe that you're a team that is attractive for others, you will find solutions."
While Hamilton has not had the start to the season that he would have liked, he said his mindset was one of sticking around in F1 for a few more years.
Speaking at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he said: "I love this team, I'm so grateful for everyone that's been on the journey with me with this team.
"I don't envisage being anywhere else, and I don't see myself quitting, I don't feel like I'm a quitter.
"But I wouldn't say that it's giving me a lot. You know, I've been there and done that, bought the T-shirt many times!
"But I am trying to be patient and work with the team to get us to a good place. And that's all I can say right now. I'm not going anywhere else."
Related video
The changes helping F1's second most-improved team shine
Ferrari decides against B-spec concept change for 2023 F1 car
Norris ‘swearing’ in helmet over costly F1 Japan Perez VSC confusion
Norris ‘swearing’ in helmet over costly F1 Japan Perez VSC confusion Norris ‘swearing’ in helmet over costly F1 Japan Perez VSC confusion
McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call
McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call McLaren: Red Bull “still a step too far” despite Norris F1 rallying call
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Mercedes: Team orders to protect Hamilton despite “no sense” criticism
Mercedes: Team orders to protect Hamilton despite “no sense” criticism Mercedes: Team orders to protect Hamilton despite “no sense” criticism
The 10 best Formula 1 drivers ever: Hamilton, Schumacher & more
The 10 best Formula 1 drivers ever: Hamilton, Schumacher & more The 10 best Formula 1 drivers ever: Hamilton, Schumacher & more
The home crowd favourites seeking F1 British GP glory
The home crowd favourites seeking F1 British GP glory The home crowd favourites seeking F1 British GP glory
Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell "made no sense" in F1 Japanese GP
Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell "made no sense" in F1 Japanese GP Hamilton: Mercedes DRS request for Russell "made no sense" in F1 Japanese GP
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka Hamilton: Lack of rear downforce leaves W14 on "knife-edge" at Suzuka
Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet
Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet Why the painful process of Mercedes’ F1 B-spec shift isn’t over yet
FIA Rally Star finalist claims maiden outright podium
FIA Rally Star finalist claims maiden outright podium FIA Rally Star finalist claims maiden outright podium
Askew hopeful ECR test leads to IndyCar return
Askew hopeful ECR test leads to IndyCar return Askew hopeful ECR test leads to IndyCar return
Horner: "Fired up" Verstappen told me he would win F1 Japanese GP by 20 seconds
Horner: "Fired up" Verstappen told me he would win F1 Japanese GP by 20 seconds Horner: "Fired up" Verstappen told me he would win F1 Japanese GP by 20 seconds
Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule
Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule Texas cites date clash in being dropped from 2024 IndyCar schedule
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.