Basking in the warm glow of their partnership breaking yet another record, it was understandable that Toto Wolff would be asked when a new deal would be struck with Lewis Hamilton.

Both the Briton and his Austrian boss have been asked about a new contract for as long as anyone can remember, and while it has been generally accepted that the customary 'announce' of new deal could wait, especially in the wake of the global disruption caused by the pandemic, sections of the media are getting restless.

As the world hailed Hamilton's achievement in becoming the winningest driver in the history of F1, when asked about a new deal, Wolff took the opportunity to take a gentle swipe at rivals McLaren.

Asked how the record-breaking win in Portugal, not to mention the inevitable seventh title, will influence the financial side of his discussions with Hamilton over a new contract, the Austrian joked: "It's huge... we have to sell plenty of inventory...

"Sell a leaseback of the buildings and just come up with the money," he added, a clear reference to McLaren's desire to sell its Woking facilities and then lease them back.

"In ten or twenty years, we're going to look back and really acknowledge what a special driver he was," the Austrian continued.

Playing down concern that his own future with the Brackley-based outfit is unclear, he said: "Where we stand today is that everybody has the will to continue.

"With Lewis and I, it is simply that we are living like hermits and I think our team is particularly disciplined. I was in Monaco last week, but we decided not to meet because the worst that could happen is me dragging corona into our meetings.

"It simply wasn't the time to sit down and meet. I hope we can finish the next couple of races on a high and then concentrate on the contract."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Egalitarian, 28/10/2020 23:50

"Thanks Chris,
I wasn't putting the boot into Pitpass at all and, yes, I figured the inverted commas were there for that very reason.
And thanks for amending my other verb too - I wasn't quite sure that might be in breach of your posting rules.
Cheers"

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2. Posted by Editor, 28/10/2020 7:49

"@ Egalitarian

I assume you are referring to the use of the verb announce.

Regular readers will be aware that over the years this is how Mercedes has announced such announcements.

Along with a picture of the signed contract in question, the German team simply uses the word 'announce', nothing more.

We even put announce in inverted commas, assuming that our readers would 'get it'.

Might I suggest you contact Bradley Lord at Mercedes and take this issue up with him.
"

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3. Posted by Egalitarian, 28/10/2020 0:24

"Every day I have to work with these millennials turning verbs into nouns and it just does my head in.
What is wrong with announcement, invitation, etc? The evolution of language is one thing; the *******isation is another thing entirely. (Looking forward to the surrendering of any argument - "OK boomer...")
Cheers - grumpy old f@rt."

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4. Posted by kenji, 27/10/2020 14:03

"What a weak response by Wolff. His reasoning for delays in contract negotiations are that he may r 'drag the virus into our meeting' was more likely to happen than having their usual meetings at the race venue over three days!!! All they are doing is keeping the issue up front for media exposure. Nothing these guys do isn't in some way part and parcel of maximising media exposure. They must think that F1 followers are a particularly thick bunch of dudes. I would expect that it's possibly already a done and signed deal but they don't want to say anything until they have locked away both '20 titles. Wham bam thank you mam....."

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