Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggests long-term driver Lewis Hamilton could leave ‘in the next couple of years’

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton could leave “in the next couple of years” if the team cannot deliver a competitive car.

Wolff – who is “absolutely confident” Hamilton will sign a new deal this year – understands that Mercedes are at risk of losing the seven-time F1 champion if their car does not improve.

“If he wants to win another championship, he needs to make sure he has the car,” Wolff said. “If we cannot demonstrate we are able to give him the car in the next couple of years, he needs to look everywhere.

“I don’t think he’s doing it at this stage. But I will have no grouch if that happens in a year or two.

“I don’t think that Lewis will leave Mercedes. He’s at the stage of a career where we trust each other, we have formed a great bond among each other and we have no reason to doubt each other, even though this is a difficult spell.

“But so nice it will be when we come out of this valley of tears, and come back to solid performances.”

Wolff revealed that Mercedes and Hamilton were close to agreeing on a new deal.

“We are talking about when we want to do it and how,” he said. “We just need to change some terms – the dates basically.”

The 38-year-old finished fifth in the season opener in Bahrain a fortnight ago as Red Bull clinched a one-two with reigning champion Max Verstappen pipping team-mate Sergio Perez to the top spot.