F1 | Wolff hopes Hamilton will not ‘’spend too much time thinking about an eighth title’’
The Austrian wants his star driver to not look too far ahead, as Hamilton looks to make more history in 2021.
2020 could be another historic campaign for seven-time World Champion. After equalling and then surpassing Michael Schumacher’s victory record last year, Lewis Hamilton also joined the German great on seven titles.
If he takes the crown again in 2021, he’ll hold yet another record on his own, and it would be the most special one yet. Hamilton will go into the upcoming season as hot favourite to achieve it, but his boss Toto Wolff has said that the British star must not look too far ahead in his pursuit of that eighth championship.
"If you start to spend too much time thinking about an eighth title you forget that in between there are 20 or so races that you need to finish in the best possible outcome," said Wolff in quotes attributed to GPFans.
"In that respect, of course, the eighth title is out there, but it's not going to be something that's going to play on his mind a lot, nor does it play on our mind a lot because we need to concentrate on the job."
Wolff took the opportunity to once again swat away rumours that Hamilton’s demands were too high and he was looking for too much money during an unprecedented time around the world with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Lewis has always recognised this is a very difficult period, difficult for everybody, difficult from a health point of view," added Wolff.
"There are much more important topics than Formula 1 racing, and that the auto industry is in a transformation phase.
"So the money topic wasn't the sticking point, it was more about 'Let us get going for 2021'."
As for what happens post-2021, Wolff said it’s up to the 36-year-old to decide if he wants to carry on. Hamilton has taken an astonishing six Drivers’ titles and 74 wins with Mercedes since he joined in 2013.
“It’s mainly Lewis’ decision,” said Wolff.
“As long as he enjoys racing, I think he’ll be able to continue longer. He develops himself as a driver, he takes care of himself in terms of physical training and mental preparation, so I don’t think that – in terms of ability – it ends in 2021. But at the end of the day, it’s his decision.”
