How do you react when your star driver, whose contract you extended barely six months ago, leaves to join the rival team?
The day after the announcement of Lewis Hamilton's surprise transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025, Toto Wolff spoke at length to a handful of media, including
Motorsport.com.
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The German team principal explains that the departure of the seven-time British world champion is not a surprise given that at the time of the contract extension this summer, the parties had “
opted for [an agreement] in the short term ".
On the other hand, the
“timing”
is
“perhaps a surprise”.
“We met for coffee at my place in Oxford, he was back at the factory, and he told me that he had decided to race for Ferrari in 2025. Basically, that's it, and we had a good hour of conversation, and this is where we are.”
“No hard feelings”
Wolff says he
“understands”
the reasons which push Lewis Hamilton to try the adventure with the Manarello team after 12 years at Mercedes.
“He needed a new challenge, he was looking for a different environment and this was perhaps the last opportunity for him to do something else.”
The German assures that the news “
doesn’t hurt”
and that he must now “
keep [his] calm and know how to manage 2024 best and what decisions to make for the future.
In F1, everything is a question of agility, of knowing how to accept that circumstances change.
In the future, we can discuss whether things could have been done differently, but I hold no grudges.”
No hard feelings, no animosity.
The “special” relationship that Wolff has constantly praised with his pilot will not end.
“
In him, I found a friend with whom I have built a relationship for over ten years.”
The Mercedes boss also answered questions about Lewis Hamilton's successor, saying he was "
looking forward to making the best decision for the team on who will be in the car."
Kimi Antonelli, 17-year-old Italian and member of the Mercedes academy since he was 11?
“The most important thing for him is to concentrate on Formula 2 [...] He is not 18 years old so I am not going to start speculating on his future in F1.”