Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari next year prevented “awkward discussions”.
Wolff said he did not try to persuade Hamilton to stay at the Silver Arrows for next season. Instead, the seven-time world champion will join the Scuderia in 2025.
Before the 2024 season had began, Hamilton informed Wolff that he wanted to end his contract with Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025.
The news came to a shock for the world of F1. However, Wolff claimed that he was aware of the possibility of the 39-year-old wanting to leave the Silver Arrows. The Austrian had a phone call with Carlos Sainz’s father, who revealed his son was leaving the team to pathe the way for Hamilton.
Despite having a tough 2024 season, Hamilton managed to win two races this season so far. The Briton won in an emotional home race at Silverstone and won in Spa. However, more recently, the seven-time world champion has struggled with the W15 machinery – notably in Austin and Sao Paulo.
Hamilton’s decision was a positive
Wolff firmly believes Hamilton’s decicison to join Ferrari is a positive. He expanded on his point, saying it prevented having to have an awkward discussion with the Briton where he tells him he is no longer required.
Wolff revealed his thoughts in a new book titled inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane.
“I absolutely had it on my radar that Lewis would go,” says Wolff. “I just couldn’t understand why he’d change to another team before we knew if we were going to be competitive.
“It also didn’t give me any time to react, I had to emergency call our partners, and I possibly missed out on negotiating with other drivers who had signed contracts a few weeks earlier like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
“[But] I like the situation. It helps us because it avoids the moment where we need to tell the sport’s most iconic driver that we want to stop.”
18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli is replacing Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025, partnering with George Russell. Wolff believes that every driver has a “shelf life” in their career.
“There’s a reason why we only signed a one-plus-one-year contract,” adds Wolff explaining the deal that was agreed with Hamilton in 2023.
“We’re in a sport where cognitive sharpness is extremely important, and I believe everyone has a shelf life.”
Feature Image Credit: Sam Bloxham via LAT Images