© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
The new season of ‘Drive to Survive’ reveals a behind-the-scenes conversation between Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff, which sheds more light on the Briton’s decision to leave Mercedes.
The whole Formula 1 world was shocked when it was revealed that Lewis Hamilton will be leaving Mercedes at the end of 2024, to join Ferrari in 2025.
Especially puzzling was the fact that in August of 2023, Lewis signed a two-year contract extension with Mercedes, and it seemed that he was determined to finish his F1 career with the German team.
Interestingly, behind-the-scenes footage from the new season of Netflix’s docuseries ‘Drive to Survive’ shows that even in 2023 Lewis was having doubts about his future.
“For me, personally, when you see the step that Aston Martin made over the winter, show that if we get it right with the concept of the car, the aero and the balance, we can win a championship,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Lewis.
“But I don’t want to wait until 2026 when we have the new engine regulations,” he continued.
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To this, Lewis replied with: “Frick, me neither. You can be here for like 20 more years, 30 more years, I can’t.”
“Well, who says that?” Wolff asked, and Lewis replied with: “These are precious years for me. I don’t know.”
Wolff is then shown trying to ease Lewis’ doubts.
“Lewis, you’re much more than a racing driver, much more than the seven-time world champion. You are one of the people that lead this team forward,” the Austrian said.
Looking at this conversation now, it seems that even in 2023, in light of Mercedes’ performance struggles, Lewis was unsure of what he wanted to do with his F1 future.
