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Toto Wolff says he understands Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari and adds they “really have a strong bond” and “are able to separate in wishing each other really all the best”.
In an interview with FOX Sports Australia, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff discussed Lewis Hamilton’s exit from the team.
When asked about the time difference between when Lewis informed him of his decision to go to Ferrari in 2025, and the public announcement of his departure, Toto said he did not find out a lot earlier than the rest of the world.
“Not a lot,” the Austrian said.
“I think it was difficult for him to really tell me because he left for the Christmas holiday and was Mercedes forever.
“Normally, that’s a time where we don’t speak a lot, because he’s gone because otherwise we’re speaking every day. And then he came back and said: ‘Can we have a coffee?’
“He came for coffee, that’s a normal thing we’re doing when the season kicks off, and he said, ‘I’m moving to Ferrari’, and I said: ‘Really?’
“Not that it shocked me because we knew that we have a short-term contract, but the timing – at the beginning of the season. I said: ‘Why at the beginning of season?’
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“He said he just wanted to have it out and not have it as a burden. Then you’ve got to stay pragmatic.
“After that five-minute shock and disbelief it was like: ‘Okay, what are we doing announcement? What are we doing going forward into the season?‘
“And he said: ‘Well, the announcement is a tricky thing, because I think it’s leaking.’
“It didn’t give me lots of options.”
Asked whether he was disappointed by Lewis’ decision, he said:
“No, not at all. I think sports people have a limited shelf life when they are at the peak of their performance, peak of their earning power, and that is maybe 10 to 15 years.
“They’ve got to do it and take that limited amount of time where you want to win as many races and as much as possible.
“And that’s why I understand that he says: ‘I gotta go a different path, I need to reinvent myself.’
“I see the positives because our years were so great and we really have a strong bond. And in the same way, we are able to separate in wishing each other really all the best.
“Hopefully, we’ll be beating him on track. And we at the same time can embark on a new route with another new driver next to George [Russell].”
Toto then said it would be strange seeing Lewis in a Ferrari, before relaying what he jokingly told the Briton.
“I think first I can’t imagine him in the red, I don’t think it suits him. But I think that picture is gonna be interesting.
“And then I told him: ‘You got to really picture our rear wing, because that’s the perspective you’re going to have,’” Wolff concluded.
