Toto Wolff not expecting Lewis Hamilton to quit Mercedes any time soon

Hamilton's current contract runs up until the end of 2023 and the new deal would see him potentially at Mercedes until 2027.

The British driver currently hold the record of winning seven world titles along with Michael Schumacher, but during the 2022 Formula 1 campaign his chances ended in claiming a record eight crown due to a very uncompetitive W13 with technical problems, including the much talked about porposing issue.

Despite Hamilton being 37-years-old, Wolff sees him continuing to be a force well into his 40s just like Alpine driver Fernando Alonso, who is currently 41.

In an interview with Channel 4 released over the Singapore GP weekend, Wolff confirmed he and Hamilton did talk about the future, and said: "Over time, we have grown together. We are totally transparent; we talk about the future also.

"Lewis will be the first to say 'I can't do this anymore because I feel like I don't have the reactions any more or I have lost fun doing it and there is another generation growing up that is very strong'.

"So, I have no doubt that whenever we agree on a contract extension - which is going to happen - that we will both discuss very openly 'What does the future hold?'

"The advantage is we speak a lot together," Wolff added.

"Just last week we sat down and he says 'Look, I have another five years in me. How do you see that?'"

Since taking a gamble to join Mercedes in 2013 from McLaren, Hamilton and the German manufacturer have dominated Formula 1 winning the constructors' championship eight times.

Wolff was then asked how it was dealing with someone like Hamilton, he replied: "Lewis and I have been together now for 10 years.

"In a way, it was alpha males in a different situation that were put into this together with Niki [Lauda, former non-executive chairman at Mercedes] and the many very strong men and women in the team.

"It took a few years to synchronize that and it was important to take your own ego out," Wolff explained.

"What I still see today with other team principals and business leaders is they are trying to play the power game - 'I am the team principal and you do what I tell you'.

"With Lewis, it was always very much on the same eye level. I would say we are friends but we care. I care for him and he cares for me and he cares for the team also and you can see that on many occasions.

"Sometimes the lion comes out and you hear these angry messages but that is completely normal for a race driver and he is the one that, after hearing that, is apologetic because he has a big heart," Wolff added.