Wolff: Mercedes needs two number one drivers
In the middle of negotiations for the renewal of Lewis Hamilton's contract with Mercedes, Toto Wolff, the team's executive director, stated that it needed two drivers to be treated with strict equality in order to win titles.
Negotiations for the renewal of Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes seem particularly lengthy. While there were rumors about the British double world champion’s desire to obtain a number one status within the team, Toto Wolff assures the contrary: « These are just rumors, that is not true at all. »
The difficulty in finalizing an agreement would mainly come from Hamilton’s negotiating talent, which somewhat surprises his boss: It is still about a few details. We have passed the stage of negotiating critical points. And believe me, Lewis negotiates very well. His level is very surprising considering the fact that he has never done this in the past, the Austrian confides, with a hint of amusement, on the official Formula 1 website.
Wolff also wants to clarify that his two drivers – with Nico Rosberg having signed a multi-year contract last year, will always be treated equally: « We need two number one drivers to push the team and the car’s performance. »
For his part, Nico Rosberg seems completely confident regarding the statements of his team leaders on this matter: « In my contract, it is written that the team is committed to following the philosophy of treating its two drivers completely equally. » he confided at the end of the Chinese Grand Prix.
