Toto Wolff recently unveiled that he did not attempt to dissuade Lewis Hamilton from leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari, expressing concerns regarding the F1 star’s “shelf life.” Early this year, Hamilton communicated his intention to cut short his Mercedes contract in favour of Scuderia Ferrari for the 2025 season.
Hamilton’s Move to Ferrari
The announcement sent ripples through the Formula 1 community. Wolff mentioned in a new book, Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane, that he had inklings of Hamilton’s plans. These suspicions were confirmed after a conversation with Carlos Sainz’s father, indicating that Sainz was stepping down to accommodate Hamilton at Ferrari.
Mutual Friendship and Transition
The relationship between Hamilton and Wolff has always been one of mutual respect. Wolff views Hamilton’s decision positively, sparing him from the difficult conversation of having to let go of the seven-time world champion when the time came. Citing greats in football like Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola, Wolff notes how they transitioned their teams by ushering in new talent.
Wolff’s Reaction to Hamilton’s Decision
“I absolutely had it on my radar that Lewis would go,” Wolff explained. “I just couldn’t understand why he’d change before knowing our competitiveness. His move put me in a tight spot, as I had to quickly reach out to our partners. I may have missed opportunities to negotiate with drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.”
Despite these challenges, Wolff acknowledges, “It avoids the difficult moment of telling the sport’s most iconic driver that we want to move on.”
Next Generation Drivers for Mercedes
Mercedes plans to replace Hamilton with 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Wolff referenced the one-plus-one-year contract signed with Hamilton in 2023, stressing the importance of cognitive sharpness and everyone having a “shelf life.” The decision aligns with Wolff’s vision to nurture the next generation of drivers, drawing parallels with strategic football management.
Reflecting on Abu Dhabi 2021
In the High Performance podcast, Wolff expressed lingering sentiments about Hamilton being denied an eighth world championship due to the controversial handling of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He said, “There’s a moment every week where I think about it… Lewis should have claimed his place as the greatest with eight titles.”
Wolff maintains that both Max Verstappen and Hamilton were deserving champions that year, but feels the championship’s conclusion was unjust on that particular day.
