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While talking about Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes, Toto Wolff said that “everyone has a shelf life”, which caused quite an uproar among fans.
While talking about Lewis Hamilton’s departure in the book ‘Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane’, Toto Wolff made some comments which caused quite an uproar among Hamilton fans.
“We’re in a sport where cognitive sharpness is extremely important, and I believe everyone has a shelf life,” the Austrian said.
“So I need to look at the next generation,” he concluded.
Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Wolff explained the comment was taken out of context.
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“You know that was taken a little bit out of context,” he told BBC Radio 4.
“What I was referring to was that all of us age, whether it is in a car, on a pitch, or as a manager or entrepreneur.
“And that is what I am trying to do with myself, understand: ‘Am I going from great to good?’
“Because good is not in Formula 1 anymore.”
Toto then said he does not believe that Lewis’ abilities have declined.
“Now contrary to my own self-assessment, I think we see with Lewis that he’s very much there when the car is right.
“And we haven’t been able to give him that car to perform his best, and that is a frustration that we share equally in the team, and for himself.
“But he’s very sharp. He’s different to when he was a 20-year-old, that’s certainly clear.
“But his experience and his race craft is tremendous,” Wolff concluded.
