Toto Wolff reveals why Mercedes 'like' the fact Lewis Hamilton is leaving as....Read more

Toto Wolff reveals why Mercedes ‘like’ the fact Lewis Hamilton is leaving as Formula One team boss delivers brutally-honest five-word

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave the team after the 2024 season, revealing that, in some ways, he is actually pleased with the move. Hamilton, who has been with Mercedes since 2013 and helped the team secure six world championships, shocked the Formula One world when he announced earlier this year that he would be joining Ferrari for the 2025 season. The British driver, now 39 years old, will team up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, marking the end of a long and successful relationship with Mercedes.

Despite the surprise of Hamilton’s departure, Wolff expressed that he understood the situation and even sees certain positives in it. Reflecting on Hamilton’s long tenure with Mercedes, Wolff said, “Everyone has a shelf life,” acknowledging that in a sport like Formula 1, where mental sharpness and performance are key, no driver stays at the top forever. Wolff had always been aware that Hamilton might leave the team at some point, but he admitted that the timing caught him off guard. He had not expected Hamilton to make a move before it was clear whether Mercedes would remain competitive in the coming seasons, which left Wolff scrambling to adjust.

However, Wolff revealed that, in hindsight, he appreciates the situation. He explained that it spared Mercedes from the difficult conversation they would have eventually had to have with their star driver about his future. The idea of having to tell one of the sport’s most iconic figures that the team no longer wanted him was something Wolff found uncomfortable. In this way, Hamilton’s decision to leave on his own terms helped avoid a potentially awkward moment down the line.

Hamilton’s departure will not only end a 12-year partnership between him and Mercedes but also usher in a new era for the team. The British driver will be replaced by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is currently competing in Formula 2 and will make his F1 debut with Mercedes in 2025. Antonelli’s promotion is part of Mercedes’ broader strategy to look to the next generation of drivers, and Wolff emphasized that the team must focus on developing young talent. He compared this approach to the world of football, where teams are constantly looking ahead to the next wave of emerging stars.

Wolff also mentioned that Hamilton’s departure gave him little time to react, and he found himself urgently reaching out to Mercedes’ partners. He also suggested that by the time Hamilton made his decision, several top drivers, like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, had already committed to contracts with other teams, making it harder for Mercedes to negotiate with potential replacements. Despite these challenges, Wolff seems to have accepted the change and is focusing on the future, especially with the addition of Antonelli alongside George Russell, who has been with Mercedes since 2022 and will continue his partnership with the new young driver.

As for Hamilton, his decision to leave Mercedes after such a successful period with the team marks a significant shift in his career. At 39, he is now the second oldest driver on the grid, behind only his former teammate Fernando Alonso, who is 43. For Wolff and Mercedes, Hamilton’s exit is not just a personal loss but also a moment of transition, as they turn their focus to the younger generation and prepare for a new era in F1.