Speculation about Vandoorne's F1 future ended on Saturday when McLaren announced that Vandoorne would replace Button next year.

It came just one week after Wolff had that if McLaren was 'crazy enough' not to take him then he would find him a seat in F1.

With youngsters Esteban Ocon, Pascal Wehrlein and Max Verstappen already making a big impact in F1, Wolff reckons grand prix racing is witnessing a changing of generations.

"I think it is really exciting times," said Wolff. "We were complaining a while ago that we had too many pay drivers in this sport. Right or wrong, these guys were actually not bad. Now we have a very exciting generation coming in.

"Vandoorne, exceptional. The way he won GP2 last year was really the most dominant GP2 ever and if you speak to Fred Vasseur whose team he was racing for, he would say it was the best championship ever.

"You have Esteban Ocon, who has a faultless CV from Renault into F3, winning it in the first year, winning GP3 as a rookie. And he is very impressive.

"Pascal, the youngest ever DTM winner, making it in F1. Max, probably not seen any more as that young junior because he has been there for two years.

"You have four drivers who have entered F1 purely on merit because of their records. I think this is great. Maybe we are just witnessing a generation change with the next generation of superstars and some of these guys might have the potential."

Button's former teammate Lewis Hamilton said that having young drivers getting in to F1 through talent rather than money was only a good thing.

"I think on one side it is a great opportunity for the next young kids to end up getting through," he said. "Hopefully they are here for the right reasons and not because they have got a ton of money in their pocket - that they are really talented individuals.

"It means hopefully talent is ready to come through rather than someone with money – so a great opportunity for them and for me.

"I race against whoever you want to put me against. We welcome new fresh blood, that can only be good for the sport."