P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff has rejected the idea that long-term contracts make F1 drivers faster, as Mercedes nears confirming new deals with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Toto Wolff firmly believes that awarding George Russell and Kimi Antonelli long-term contracts at Mercedes will not enhance their performance on the track. He stresses that a driver insinuating they would be faster with a multi-year deal lacks the appropriate mindset. While Mercedes is working on renewing contracts with its drivers, the official announcements are pending. Despite confirming Russell and Antonelli’s continuation with the team, negotiations have been more prolonged than anticipated, generating intrigue within the F1 community. Wolff’s interest in Max Verstappen has also impacted Mercedes’ driver plans, possibly leading to short-term deals for Russell and Antonelli. The Mercedes team principal cites a preference for short-term contracts as a longstanding pattern and hints at potential changes in the driver lineup should Verstappen be pursued in the future. Wolff emphasizes that, contrary to popular belief, longer contracts do not necessarily enhance driver performance, as the existing pressure in Formula 1 remains significant regardless of the contract duration.
