Emotional toll: Toto Wolff on Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari
In a heartfelt comparison, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff likened seeing Lewis Hamilton join Ferrari to witnessing an ex-partner in a new relationship. Wolff, who had a successful partnership with Hamilton, expressed his bittersweet feelings while wishing the seven-time world champion well for the upcoming season.
Hamilton's historic switch
Lewis Hamilton, F1's most successful driver, transitioned from Mercedes to Ferrari during the off-season. This move concluded a remarkable 12-year tenure with Mercedes where Hamilton secured six championships. Despite the announcement of Hamilton's impending move nearly a year ago, Wolff admitted to having an emotional reaction upon seeing the first images of Hamilton at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.
"It's a little bit like you divorce amicably, and it's all good, and then you see your partner for the first time with a new friend!" Wolff shared with Sky Sports News at the Autosport Awards. "But I'm really happy for him, and I told him that those pictures were iconic that he made -- it was so well curated and no surprise with Lewis."
Mercedes' recent struggles and hopes
Hamilton struggled with performance during his final three years at Mercedes, as the team grappled with new regulations introduced in 2022. Despite securing four wins in 2024—a significant improvement from the prior two years—Mercedes' car performance was inconsistent, heavily influenced by track layout and conditions.
Reflecting on these challenges, Wolff acknowledged the uncertainty and learning curve heading into the 2025 season. “We were scratching our head a lot last year, particularly in the beginning,” Wolff said of the 2024 season with the W15 car.
"Like all the other teams, we had ups and downs; we had some very dominant performances and then other races that were not so good. At the end of the day, when the flag drops, we're going to see in qualifying in Melbourne where we stand."
As the new season approaches with the first race set for March 16th in Australia, the motorsport world will be keenly observing whether Mercedes can resolve the issues it faced last year and how Hamilton will fare with his new team, Ferrari.
