Mercedes is not looking at rival teams’ Formula 1 drivers for 2019 despite having no drivers signed beyond this season, according to team bossꦉ Toto Wolff. 

Azerbaijan Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton is expected to agree to a new deal with Mercedes, though the reigning world champions have admitted negotiations have been delayed due to the team’s difficult st🌞art to 2018.

Teammate Valtteri Bott🥀as, who suffered a dramatic race-ending puncture wh﷽ile leading with three laps to go in Baku, is also out of contract at the end of the season having signed a one-year extension last year. 

Daniel Ricciardo could be available at the end of the campaign with the Australian keeping his options aiming as he looks to place himself in championship-winning contention, t🃏hough Wolff insists Mercedes is not considering the Red Bull driver. 

"We are not looking at drivers outside of Mercedes at the moment because, first of all, we need to give our support to our two guy⛎s, that's the priority,” Wolff sa🎃id. 

“It's like if you're happy with your wife, you don't look elsewhere! We are with our two wives -- or three [including Ocon] -- and we are not looking at༺ that.

"Give us a few more races, [let us] start the European season pro🍌perly, go to Canada, and then the intense July, and I will have a better vie🐻w.”

For the short-term at least, Wolff says the team is only looking at drivers currently contracted to Mercedes, including Hamilton, Bottas and Force India’s Esteban Oconꦉ. 

"It's a good problem to have. We are very satisfied with how Valtteri has been going these days and Lewis we don't need to talk about -- he's the best of the current drivers in♛ my opinion and then you have these kids growing up like Ocon and George. I 𓄧am optimistic about the future Mercedes line-up.”

Hamilton, who revealed he had delayed his appearance on the Baku podium to console Bottas, reckons the Finn has done more than enough to j൩ustify his place within the team. 

“Look what’s he is doing, he is driving exceptionally well,” Hamilton told Channel 4. “I think you’ve go🔥t to gi▨ve him a lot of credit. Coming into a new team, as my teammate, it’s not easy and this year he has rose to the challenge. 

“I think he’s doing a𓂃 solid job, more than the team would need. I thin𓄧k more so than ever he’s earned his place here. And I think the team should be really happy with him.”