Lewis Hamilton’s Broken Promise: Toto Wolff’s Verstappen Interest

Lewis Hamilton’s Broken Promise: Toto Wolff’s Verstappen Interest Revealed

As Lewis Hamilton prepares for his highly anticipated move to Ferrari, a surprising revelation has emerged regarding a promise made by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. The promise involved Red Bull’s reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, and Wolff’s discussions—or lack thereof—about bringing him to Mercedes.

Hamilton, who spent 12 years with Mercedes, secured six of his seven world championships with the team and contributed to their dominance in Formula 1. However, in recent seasons, Red Bull and Verstappen have taken over as the sport’s leading force, with the Dutch driver winning four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024. Given Verstappen’s dominance, any team would be eager to sign him if the opportunity arose.

With Hamilton’s departure at the end of the 2024 season, speculation grew over who would take his seat at Mercedes. Many names were linked to the vacancy, including Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and young talent Kimi Antonelli, who was ultimately chosen as Hamilton’s replacement. However, new details from Netflix’s latest season of Drive to Survive—set to be released on March 7, 2025—have revealed that Wolff once considered Verstappen for the role, despite a prior commitment to Hamilton.

Wolff’s Promise to Hamilton

During a preview of the seventh season of Drive to Survive, Sky Sports highlighted a conversation between Toto Wolff and his wife, Susie Wolff, at their home in Monaco. The footage, recorded before Antonelli was confirmed as Hamilton’s replacement, showcases Wolff’s thought process regarding the team’s future leadership.

In the scene, Wolff discusses the possibility of signing Ferrari’s outgoing driver, Carlos Sainz, noting his strong performances. He also considers Fernando Alonso, praising the Spaniard’s race pace and racecraft. However, Susie dismisses Alonso as a long-term solution, calling him an “interim” option due to his age.

The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Susie asks, “You don’t think Max is an option?”

Wolff’s response is particularly revealing: “I think he is. If you win all the races in a season, I think he is.”

However, Wolff then admits to having made a promise to Hamilton regarding Verstappen. “I haven’t spoken to him because I promised Lewis I wouldn’t talk to him, but I will have the conversation now,” he states.

Mercedes’ Interest in Verstappen

Mercedes and Red Bull have shared an intense rivalry over the past few years, especially during Hamilton and Verstappen’s controversial 2021 title battle. Given their history, it came as a surprise when Wolff entertained the idea of signing Verstappen. His admission on Drive to Survive suggests that, despite his promise to Hamilton, he was willing to explore the possibility of bringing the Red Bull driver to Mercedes.

Meanwhile, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has also been open about his team’s willingness to recruit drivers from rival teams. With Hamilton leaving Mercedes and the driver market in flux, speculation about potential team swaps has remained a hot topic in the paddock.

Ultimately, Mercedes chose to promote their young junior driver, Kimi Antonelli, to partner George Russell for the 2025 season. However, Wolff’s consideration of Verstappen adds another layer of intrigue to the ever-evolving F1 driver market.

With the new season set to begin on March 16, 2025, fans are eagerly awaiting how the shake-up of top drivers will impact the competitive landscape. As Drive to Survive prepares to drop its latest season, this behind-the-scenes revelation about Wolff and Verstappen is sure to be one of the most talked-about moments in the show.