Toto Wolff has suggested that Mercedes gave 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton a short contract becau🐼se th🐬ey already had one eye on Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli, 17, has been tipped to replace Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025 when the seven-time F1 champion goes to Ferrari.

But the decision to hand Hamilton a two-year contract, which he signed last year, rather than a longer deal w🐷as to avoid losing Antoneꦯlli.

Mercedes team principal Wolff recalled a tale from the past when a young Max Verstappen slipped through his fingers, because he was already committed contractually🍨 to Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

“There was𓂃 a situation 🌃many years ago where we had the opportunity to let Max drive,” Wolff is quoted by .

“And that wasn'tꦰ🐲 possible back then because we simply didn't have a cockpit.

“Rosberg and Hamilton were tied to us long-term, and Red Bull naturally seiz▨ed the opportunity.

“They gave him a contract with Toro Rosso, with the possibility of driving for Red Bull the follo෴wing yearඣ.

“We then lost the young driver, and you can see how succe🎃ssful he has become.

"And precisely because we have a junior on the horizon who is really dri🌱ving at a very high level, I simply wanted to keep this option ope𝓀n.

"That does not me🌼an that we will actu☂ally put Antonelli in the car next year,

"He is 17 years old, and that m♈ight be a bit early.

“But with a view to the next f🔯ive or ten years, I just wanted to have this option."

Antonelli will de꧒but in Formula 2 this season but is being mentioned alongside the likes of Fernando Alonso as a serious target for Mercedes to replace Hamilton with.

Hamilton penned terms with Merc﷽edes last summer after a long-running saga which 🐻saw him heavily linked to Ferrari.

This winter, he🍷 activated a get-out clause which allows him to go to Ferrari in 2025.

This 🐷season, which begins this weekend in Bahrain, will be Hamilton’s last with Mercedes.