Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W05. Formula One World Championship, Rd15, Japanese Grand Prix, Qualifying, Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, 4 October 2014
Though Hamilton, like team mate Nico Rosberg, is contracted to Mercedes for next year, both parties have agreed that final terms will not be worked out until this season is complete, prompting speculation that the championship leader could yet jump ship - something Wolff wants to avoid.
“We have a contract with both of our drivers for 2015, and we want to continue with the current line-up,” said Wolff, who saw Mercedes tie up the 2014 constructors’ title on Sunday, the first in the company’s history.
“These two boys are part of the success of the team, also because they know each other so well and because they respect each other I think. The moment you get someone else in, that fight could get… it could be detrimental to the team’s performance. Therefore our main priority is to continue with Lewis and Nico in 2015.”
Hamilton remains locked in an intense battle for the 2014 drivers’ crown with Rosberg, currently leading his long-time rival by just 17 points, and Wolff believes it only fair that nothing is allowed to distract him from the task at hand.
“We have agreed with Lewis that we want to concentrate on the championship and give him the exact same possibility as Nico, and not to get involved with commercial, financial or legal discussions until Abu Dhabi,” he said. “My commitment to him is that we are not going to talk with anybody about any terms or contracts until then.”
Based on recent form - he has won the last four Grands Prix - Hamilton is favourite to land Mercedes’ first drivers’ title since Juan Manuel Fangio in 1955, but with double points available at the final round, the championship is almost certain to go down to the wire.