Wolff says Hamilton salary numbers are 'all made up'

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Don't believe anything you read about Lewis Hamilton's rumored 2021 contract numbers was Mercedes boss Toto Wolff's message in an interview with Sky Sports.

Wolff said that Mercedes' star driver and himself had yet to sit down to discuss the latter's future with the German manufacturer beyond 2021, amid rumors that Hamilton will be asking for a pay rise following his winning a sixth world title last year.

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"I texted Lewis the other day because I’m reading all these comments in the press about our negotiations, that Lewis is asking for so much money," Wolff said.

"But we have never talked about it, it’s all made up. So I said maybe we should sit down one day and have the chat.

"It’s about finding a day where we spend a few hours together. We have that respect.

"I know what contribution Lewis brings to the team as a driver and as a brand. You always need to respect that."

Hamilton, who was sitting across the table from Wolff during the Sky Sports interview conducted with martin Brundle, said he was in no rush to conclude a new deal with his employer.

"It’s crazy because there’s all this talk in the media," he said. "I have a certain approach in that I don’t stress. I trust Toto and we have that trust between us.

"We’ve told each other basically what our goals are and what our aims are, our commitments.

"I don’t always feel there is necessarily a rush but then sometimes, Toto is like ‘is everything okay?’.

"So, we always keep the channel open and I’m sure in the near-future we’ll start to sit down. I don’t feel stressed with it."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.