After years of incomparable dominance in Formula 1, Mercedes find themselves in a very tricky situation. Winning was almost guaranteed for the Silver Arrows in the turbo-hybrid era of this sport. But come 2022, they’ve endured a horrible dry spell. Now, while the team is rebuilding, they’ve already taken the all-important step of ditching their flawed car philosophy. Now that that is out of the way, it seems like the team has been posed with another perplexing situation that puts Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton at loggerheads.

What Toto Wolff expects out of this season is pretty clear.  Admittedly, the championship is a foregone conclusion for the Silver Arrows in 2023. But Wolff wants to at least replicate what transpired in 2022, and possibly do one better. That is to say, they want to win a race or two this year. Meanwhile, 7x champion, Hamilton has other plans for the team.

Lewis Hamilton openly contradicts Toto Wolff

When asked where Wolff would like to register that first victory of 2023, he quickly replied, “Silverstone.” While Hamilton would love to win his home Grand Prix, he has his eyes set on something bigger than a consolation prize as a trophy for a sub-par season.

When asked if he was looking forward to winning a race this season, he openly defied Wolff and proclaimed, “I hope we don’t focus too much on winning a race this year. I care less to win a race this year and more to win the championship next year.”

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The team’s vision for the 2023 season isn’t the only thing Wolff and Hamilton disagree about though.

Wolff questions Hamilton’s self-appraisal

With the 7x champion nearing the end of his contract with Mercedes, the duo of Hamilton and Wolff would be bashing contractual terms out every chance they get. But as it turns out, the Austrian boss isn’t too pleased with Hamilton’s demands.

The Daily Mail reported, “Hamilton wants a “long-term” contract but Mercedes’ preference is to only offer him one year with the option of a second year. And Mercedes are “not prepared” to agree to Hamilton’s wish for a 10-year ambassadorial role, after his F1 career ends, which would be worth £10m [$10,874,100  approx.] per year.”

It’s also been reported that “Neither Hamilton nor Mercedes “wants the relationship to end”, it is reported. But the seven-time F1 champion must “lower his demands to get a deal signed”.”

Is 2023 going to be the end of Hamilton and Mercedes’ illustrious alliance?

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