On Saturday morning it was announced that Hamilton had agreed a new two-year contract extension to remain with Merc🀅edes until the end of the 2023 season.

Mercedes does not yet have a se🍒cond driver signed up for 2022 and beyond with Wolff currently weighing up whether to retain Valtteri Bottas or replace the Finn with Williams’ George Russell.

Speaking to media ahead of qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix, Wolff revealed Mercedes intends to cho🐼ose who will partner Hamilton “in the summer” and have a deal finalised by the end of the season.

“Today is about Lewi𓆉s and having that contract out of the way,” Wolff said when asked about Hamilton’s teammate.

“We always said we wanted to give it the next few races to gain more clarity𒉰, and also happy Valtteri’s racing in Austria in my opinion was really good and he needs to consolidate that.

“He’s a known factor, and in the same way 🐼we knowꦚ the strengths and weaknesses of George.

“That decisi൲on is going to be made during the summer, first discussions with George and Valtteri and then hopefully we are sorted before the end of the season.

“With Lewis we were clear since a while that we wanted to continue🍃 so that was obvious f💞or us,” Wolff added.

“And now we can look at the second seat, it’s between those two. And as I said we value them both෴ for their strengths and for what they can contribute to the team.”

Wolff also 𒉰suggested that Hamilton would welcome the challenge of having a new teammate.

“I think for Lewis it’s not important who sits in the other car, I 𝓡think the sheer fact of having a competitor, a team anꦿd a driver that challenges him and challenges us is all the fun,” Wolff said.

“And yeah, after seven years of success, difficult years with Ferrari where we had to stretch ourselves, very different challen๊ge, bear in mind the regulat🎃ion change for next year.

“I can𒈔 tell you the ambiance and the mindset in the briefing room is so much fun like we haven’t h🌼ad for many years.”