Wolff in regular contact with Hamilton, not spoken to Bottas

Mark Scott
Toto-Wolff-and-Lewis-Hamilton-PA

Toto Wolff has had varying levels of communication with his drivers during lockdown. Lots of chats with Lewis Hamilton, but none whatsoever with Valtteri Bottas.

The Silver Arrows boss was asked in a recent video on Mercedes YouTube channel about how he has kept in touch with the drivers as the wait to go racing continues.

Wolff’s response was that he leaves it to the drivers to get in contact before revealing that he has not spoken once to Bottas but has been in regular contact with Hamilton.

“I very much leave it to the drivers,” Wolff said via Mercedes’ YouTube channel.

“When there is nothing urgent, I leave it to them to manage the communication. I haven’t spoken to Valtteri, I think he is in a good place personally, and I am happy about that.

“With Lewis, I’ve been very much in contact, we’ve spoken regularly with Whatsapp very often, keeping each other up to date.”

Wolff also gave an insight into how Mercedes pick the drivers they want for their Formula 1 team. It is a process they may well be revisiting as both Hamilton and Bottas are still not committed to any Mercedes deal beyond the end of 2020.

“There is a data side of things,” Wolff added.

“You look at race results, back into the junior formulas, you look at comparisons with team mates and how these team mates compared to other people, and then there is the personality side, which is very important.

“How would the driver fit into the team structure? What would the dynamic be with the driver who could be his team mate? What’s the planning for the future?

“All these factors are being in a way compounded. We are discussing that in a forum, everyone gives their opinion, and most often everybody in that group has the same opinion anyway.”

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