Wolff to 'openly discuss' Mercedes interests with Hamilton

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff will 'openly discuss' the team's interests with Lewis Hamilton as he departs to Ferrari.

After announcing that he will leave Mercedes at the end of the season, Hamilton faces the precarious position of driving for what will be his rival team in 2025 when he makes the move to the Scuderia.

Both teams were locked in a close battle in the Constructors' Championship, when Mercedes only just finished second by three points after Carlos Sainz failed to score points at the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Wolff: I'm interested in new challenges and situations

Faced with the possibility that the two teams could be up against another close Constructors' battle, Wolff says he is going to discuss Hamilton's interests within the team.

"Definitely a new situation that to manage for Lewis and for the team," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.

"It is something that, when you focus on the really short term - and this is the racing team that's being deployed to run the product - it doesn't have a big impact on everything that's happening going forward on the development side.

"I'm always interested in new and challenging situations, and balancing 2024 Mercedes interests versus 2025 driver interests.

"It's something that we will openly discuss at the beginning how to manage so we come to a good outcome between us."