Mercedes boss Källenius rubbishes rumors of conflict with Wolff

Daimler chairman and Mercedes chief executive Ola Källenius strongly denied in Austria rumors of a simmering conflict with F1 team boss Toto Wolff.

Reports in the media earlier this year suggested that Mercedes was on the verge of pulling the plug on its F1 operations from 2021 and remaining in the sport as an engine supplier.

Rumors of internal dissension at Mercedes emerged, fueled by speculation that Wolff could join the 2021 Aston Martin Racing team co-owned by his good friend Lawrence Stroll, a falsehood stoked by the revelation of an investment made by the Austrian in Aston Martin Lagonda.

Wolff's future with Mercedes beyond this season remains unclear as the 48-year-old team boss has yet to extend his contract with the manufacturer.

• Hamilton salary speculation 'just total nonsense' - Wolff

But in Spielberg last weekend Källenius moved to dissipate the negative noise about his relationship with Wolff while also hinting at Mercedes committing to a long-term engagement in Formula 1.

"Well, not everything you read in the media is true," the Swede told Sky F1.

"Toto and I are very close. We speak quite often. I'm very happy to be here and support the team after all the hard work that they have done over the winter.

"I think there are two things that are very important for the future of Formula 1," he explained. "It's on the one hand to reduce the cost basis, and a lot of work has gone into that.

"We have been instrumental in defining what that new cost basis should look like, which will make the sport more financially robust.

"The other thing is we have the best hybrid technology in the world in Formula 1. We can take that forward towards a CO2 neutral sport, all together.

"We have also presented a plan how we step-by-step will make this more sustainable. Those two things, financial sustainability and CO2 neutrality: that is a good future for F1 and Mercedes in F1."

Källenius also suggested that new deals for both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, for 2021 and perhaps beyond, are on their way.

"We're staying with our two boys," he said. "We stand by the two drivers that we have now."

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