Wolff still undecided on Mercedes future beyond 2020

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff is still mulling his future with the German manufacturer beyond this season, but insists he has "the best intention" of remaining with the Silver Arrows squad.

Wolff's management contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the year and rumors of the Austrian's impending exit from the championship-winning team, of which he is a shareholder, started swirling recently.

Wolff denied the gossip which he believes was sparked by his personal investment in beleaguered sport's car manufacturer Aston Martin.

• Wolff clarifies reasons Mercedes rejected reverse-grid idea

"I have bought a few shares in Aston Martin as a financial investment. I believe in the brand. I think that the strategy that is being deployed makes sense," he told members of the media on Wednesday.

"Tobias Moers, the new MD, is a guy that I've known since a long time. And I believe that he can turn around this business.

"There's a very strong group of shareholders that are backing Aston Martin today that will not let it down. And therefore, I've decided to be part of that group.

"My executive functions are unchanged. I'm at Mercedes, I'm the team principal and I am a shareholder. And it's clear that when there is no other headlines out there, that the Aston Martin thing caused some waves.

"But I'm planning with Mercedes. I have the best intention to stay here. And that is unchanged."

Wolff also dismissed reports of a difficult and strained relationship with Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius who took over the reins of the automotive group in 2019 from Dieter Zetsche.

"With Ola, I had quite a laugh when these rumours came up then that there was some dysfunctionality in our relationship," he added.

"We are on the phone many times every single week, and he's very involved. He's a very good sparring partner for myself that I wouldn't [want to] miss, in the same way Dieter was."

Still, Wolff's future with Mercedes beyond 2020 remains uncertain. The Austrian believes he can still "add a lot" as the manufacturer's representative in F1, but admits a few question still need to be thought over.

"I need to question myself," he said. "I don’t want to be a team principal that goes from great to good without realising that he’s maybe not adding as much any more to the team as he did in the beginning.

"I still feel that I can add a lot, but of course I’m contemplating about my future. I’m in discussion with Ola about how that goes.

"It is not a simple employment contract, but it involves a shareholding. But we’re in the midst of the process in carving our joint future, and therefore I don’t want to stick to some particular wording, whether that’s team principal or managing director.

"And to be honest with you I haven’t taken any decision yet, because we haven’t even started racing. So all these agreements and discussions are happening as we speak."

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