Hamilton has now signed a bumper new Mercedes contract, alongs🧔ide George Russell’s new deal, which ties both drivers to ꦍthe team for another two years.

But the seven-time F1 champion had previously been linked w🌜ith a sensatꦚional move to Ferrari.

"There was a bit of delay but it was ❀clear that it would end like this, with Lewis remaining with us,” Mercedes team principal Wolff told . 

“He and I are always very transparentಌ in our relationships.&n🧜bsp;

“Some ti🥀me ago he to💯ld me: 'I saw John Elkann at dinner, but know that I'm not going anywhere.’

“And when you🌼 ღwrote about a conversation between him and Ferrari he warned me: 'Toto, I'm not carrying out any negotiations. But I understand the rumours that have arisen’.

“The announced signing came after six months, but🌺 it was for reasons related only to marketing and s🥀ponsors. 

“In my ꦺmind there was never a ౠmillimetre of doubt. 

“And then we also have George for anotheꦰr two seasons, who is the future of this team, who grew up in Mercedes, the next generation after Hamilton. We are happy."

The relationship between the two Mercedes drivers ꦑcame under the microscope after last weekend’s F1 Qatar Grand Prix.

With Wolff absent as he recovers from knee surgery, his drivers collided on the first lap wh🗹ich ended Hamilton’s race 🍷early.

Hamilto𒈔n later shouldered the blame for the inciden𝔍t.