Wolff: Hamilton won’t do ‘a Rosberg’

Editor

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is confident Lewis Hamilton will not announce a shock retirement from Formula 1 like the Brit's former team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Rosberg did not return for the 2017 season to defend his World Championship title after he decided to retire from the sport, but Wolff feels that Hamilton will not drop another bombshell on the team.

"I think Lewis is a free spirit," Wolff told ESPN.

"Lewis doesn't want to be put in a box with people saying, 'You need to behave like this and do this to be a racing driver'.

One of the key things for him is to be free and be able to decide what he wants to do. And in a certain way, keeping all the options open is something that takes pressure off of him.

"He could be doing something completely different in a year or two or three's time and I am aware of that, but equally I know he will protect the structure and not just say, 'I'm out of here tomorrow'.

"But this is part of his strength actually."

Hamilton and Mercedes have entered negotiations over a new contract, and Wolff has revealed that talks are progressing well.

He added: "They have started already and we are on a good way.

"Let's see when the white smoke comes out of the chimney."