Hamilton has now signed a bumper new Mercedes contract, alongside Geor🌃ge Russell’꧒s new deal, which ties both drivers to the team for another two years.

But the seven-time F1 champion had previously been linked with a 🍰sens🔯ational move to Ferrari.

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

“He and I are always very transparent in o💙ur relationships. 

“Some time agꦿo he told me: 'I saw John Elkann at dinner, but know that I'm not going anywhere.’

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

“The ann🐼ounced signingꩵ came after six months, but it was for reasons related only to marketing and sponsors. 

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

“And then we also have George for another two seasons, wh🍰o is the future of this team, who grew up in Mercedes, the next generation after Hamilton. We a🌌re happy."

The relationship between the two Mercede𒆙s drivers came undeꩵr 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 which ended Hamilton’s๊ race early.

Hꩵamilton later shouldered the blame for th💃e incident.