F1 Round-Up: Wolff regrets not signing Verstappen, Hamilton's contract, and Red Bull aiming for historic 100th Win

Hamilton's future with Mercedes nearing resolution

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that Lewis Hamilton could finalize a new contract extension with the team as early as this week.

Speculation surrounding Hamilton's future has been rife, with his current deal set to expire at the end of this year.

Rumors of a potential move to Ferrari were dismissed by team boss Frederic Vasseur.

After expressing his readiness to commit to Mercedes, negotiations between Hamilton and the team are progressing positively, with an agreement expected before the Canadian Grand Prix.

Wolff emphasized the strong bond between Hamilton and Mercedes, highlighting their long-standing partnership since 2013.

The Mercedes chief acknowledged Hamilton's unparalleled success, matching Michael Schumacher's records and maintaining his significance as the "most important personality in the sport."

Hamilton remains motivated to close the gap to Red Bull and fight for the championship next year.

Red Bull aims for historic 100th win in Canada

Red Bull Racing is on the cusp of achieving a significant milestone in Formula 1 history.

With 99 victories under their belt, a win in Canada would mark their 100th triumph in the sport.

Max Verstappen, currently in exceptional form with three consecutive victories, aims to secure this landmark win for the team.

Red Bull's dominant performance in recent races, with Verstappen claiming 19 wins out of the past 26 races, demonstrates their strong form.

Team advisor Helmut Marko expressed pride in the team's journey, highlighting their impressive progress since Dietrich Mateschitz's acquisition of Jaguar Racing in 2004.

While saddened by Mateschitz's absence, Red Bull's goal is to win the upcoming races and reach the milestone of 100 wins, ideally in Austria.

Wolff regrets not signing Verstappen

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has expressed regret over not signing Max Verstappen when the opportunity arose.

Prior to joining Red Bull's junior program in 2014, Verstappen and his father had discussions with Wolff about the possibility of joining Mercedes.

However, at that time, Mercedes lacked a junior team and could not offer Verstappen a seat for the 2015 season.

Despite the missed opportunity, Wolff believes that a Verstappen-Hamilton partnership might not have worked due to Hamilton's long-standing association with Mercedes.

Wolff acknowledges that he had two excellent drivers in Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and when Rosberg departed in 2016, Valtteri Bottas became the preferred choice.

Wolff highlights that Verstappen's talent was not fully evident during his Formula 3 days and that his exceptional skills became apparent as he matured in Formula 1.