Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is keen for the final race of the season to be over so he can begin contract talks with Lewis Hamilton.
The pair decided it would be best to leave talks about 2016 and beyond for the end of the season, rather than taking attention away from Hamilton’s title campaign.
Speaking ahead of the season finale, in which only Nico Rosberg can deny Hamilton a second title, Wolff made it clear that he wants Hamilton to stay.
“We want him very much to stay for many more years,” said the Austrian.
“He’s great for the team, he’s part of the family, the relationship we all enjoy is more than just a professional racing relationship between driver and team. It’s on a different level.”
The decision to delay Hamilton’s contract talks, despite already agreeing a deal with Rosberg, was the right thing to do according to Wolff.
“We did that very consciously even when the rumours accelerated around other drivers and our team. We sat down again and said should we take these conversations forward? And we decided: No, it’snot the best thing to do.”
However talks will begin fairly soon after Abu Dhabi is done and dusted.
“On the Monday or Tuesday after Abu Dhabi we will sit down and discuss and hopefully find a solution quickly,” he added.
