It’s clear what Toto Wolff really thinks about Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton’s choice to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, according to Toto Wolff, “helped” the team avoid an awkward discussion about the seven-time world champion’s future.
Although Hamilton’s shock switch for Formula One 2025 was revealed in February, Mercedes’ new all-access book “Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane” offers fresh insights into the situation.
The team’s erratic 2023 campaign and the beginning of 2024 are chronicled in the book.
It also discusses Hamilton’s decision to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, with Wolff essentially implying that they only made the seven-time world champion an 1+1 offer because they were worried about his ability to compete into his 40s.
Wolff remarked of Hamilton, “There’s a reason we only signed a one-plus-one-year contract.”
“Cognitive acuity is crucial in our sport, and I think everyone has a limited lifespan.
Therefore, I must consider the upcoming generation. In football, it is the same. managers such as Pep Guardiola or Sir Alex Ferguson. They brought in younger players who propelled the team for the ensuing years because they expected their top players to perform well.
Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes was unable to negotiate with Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc due to the timing of Hamilton’s move, as both drivers had already signed new contracts with McLaren and Ferrari, respectively, to avoid the news.
In the end, Wolff decided to replace Hamilton in 2025 with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is 18 years old.
“I was definitely aware that Lewis would leave,” he continued. “I simply couldn’t comprehend why he would switch teams before we were certain that we would be competitive.
Additionally, I had to make an emergency call to our partners, which left me with no time to respond. Additionally, I might have lost out on negotiating with other drivers, such as Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, who had signed contracts a few weeks prior.
He goes on, “[But] I like the situation.” “It helps us because it saves us from having to announce our intention to stop to the most famous driver in the sport.”
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