Toto Wolff dismisses rumours of Mercedes replacing Lewis Hamilton with Sergio Perez as ‘complete bull****’
Red Bull driver Perez was linked with a seat at Mercedes while Hamilton was rumoured to be considering retirement
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has strongly dismissed claims that he has spoken to the likes of Sergio Perez about the prospect of replacing Lewis Hamilton as “complete bull****.”
Hamilton was denied a record-breaking eighth drivers title on the final lap of the 2021 season, missing out to Max Verstapppen in controversial circumstances, and his subsequent retreatal from public viewing sparked claims he was considering retirement.
While that was put to bed when Hamilton stated his intent to return at the 2022 Mercedes launch, a poor start to the season in an under-performing car again fuelled rumours the seven-time champion might not see out the end of his current deal to the end of 2023.
Red Bull’s Perez was one such driver linked but Wolff inisists he never called the Mexican driver and emphasised that he has had conversations with Hamilton about continuing for “maybe five or 10 years.”
“It’s complete bull****”, Wolff said of the Perez to Mercedes rumours, in an interview with Motorsport.com.
“I never called Sergio, he’s a good guy and I respect him, but I never talked to him and I was not in contact with any other driver.
“Lewis and I, even in the face of a not-so-encouraging scenario like the beginning of this season, we are always aligned in wanting to try to make things better and to be together next year.
“And we’ve been telling each other for a couple of months that we could go on, maybe five or 10 years, right? So none of that is true.”
Wolff has led Mercedes to eight straight constructors’ titles despite the heartache on missing out on the drivers title last season, yet 2022 has been a different story altogether.
Plagued by problems with bouncing and porpoising of their W13 car, Mercedes currently languish third in the Constructors’ Standings after 13 races, 127 points behind Red Bull in first and 30 points behind Ferrari.
Verstappen also has a healthy lead in the Drivers Leaderboard as he closes in on a second title; the 24-year-old is 80 points ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second, with Hamilton sixth.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments