Toto Wolff has disclosed that prior to Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes, he asked Pep Guardiola for advice on how to handle a star player’s possible departure.
After considering Pep Guardiola’s advice, Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff decided against convincing Lewis Hamilton to revoke his Ferrari move. At the conclusion of the current season, the seven-time Formula One champion will say goodbye to the Silver Arrows and join the Italian squad in 2025.
Hamilton solidified his place as one of the greatest drivers of all time during his 11-year career with Mercedes. In addition to winning the championship at McLaren, he went on to win six more world titles and was instrumental in eight straight constructors’ titles. Of course, Wolff has a big hole to fill after his departure.
With teenage sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli stepping up to replace Hamilton next season, the Austrian has looked to the future. When Wolff found out the Brit was planning to leave, he said he listened to the Manchester City manager’s advice on how to deal with such a big departure.
“I had a conversation with Pep Guardiola a long time ago, he’s a friend, and I said ‘What do you do if this and that player leaves?'” Wolff said on the High Performance podcast, which is hosted by former Formula One presenter Jake Humphrey.
“What do you mean, what do I do?” he asked. “Well, do you try to convince them to stay?” I asked. “No,” he replied. You simply must let someone go if they believe they can play better somewhere else.
Wolff did not attempt to convince Hamilton to reconsider, as he disclosed that he respected the Spaniard’s advice. He went on to say, “It is something that I embrace the same way here.” “Let’s make it as enjoyable as possible for everyone if someone wants to go.”
Before the current season began, it was announced that Hamilton had committed to a 2025 contract with Ferrari. Wolff acknowledged that Carlos Sainz Sr. had told him about the dramatic move weeks before it was formally announced.
Before Hamilton could personally tell his boss about the news, the former race driver and father of Carlos Jr., who will be giving up his seat at Ferrari for Hamilton, told him about it. Wolff went on, “So I heard the bells ringing two weeks before,” Yes, this is what’s going on, the elderly man Sainz informed me over the phone. After that, some drivers’ fathers called me who hadn’t previously. “All right,” I thought, “something’s happening there.”
This information prompted Wolff to message Frederic Vasseur, the team principal for Ferrari, and the Frenchman’s silence nearly confirmed his suspicions that Hamilton was indeed departing. “After that, I texted Fred Vasseur to ask, ‘Are you taking our driver?'” didn’t receive a reply,” he added. “Very out of character for Fred. He’s a good friend. Yes, I did see it coming.
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