Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff: Hamilton’s Exit Was A ‘surprise’ At Breakfast Meeting
Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes to join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, surprising even Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Despite the rumours, Wolfe had no confirmation until he had breakfast at his home in Oxford, England. However, he insists there is no bad blood between them.
“Surprisingly, I heard the rumor a couple of days ago, but I thought he would make the announcement at the breakfast we had planned for Wednesday morning,” Wolff said.
Hamilton, who has been with Mercedes since 2013 and has won seven titles with the team, expired on a two-year contract in August. Wolff stressed that it was not surprising that Hamilton would seek a new challenge, saying the timing of the decision surprised them. Hamilton’s decision to activate his release clause, allowing him to leave after a year, was a strategic move.
“We know that signing a short-term deal would be beneficial for both parties. We can’t commit to anything else and he’s taking the opportunity to leave. We fully respect the possibility of you changing your mind; those are different circumstances.” Wolf explained.
Hamilton’s departure has prompted Mercedes to look for a new driver to replace George Russell. Wolff compared it to Nico Rosberg’s unexpected exit in 2016 and highlighted the potential of the move.
“I always like change because change brings opportunity, and we accepted Nico’s situation as well. And it was equally sudden, unexpected from one moment to the next,” he said.
Hamilton has never been associated with Ferrari in his career and a move to Ferrari will add a new dimension to the upcoming F1 season. Wolff expressed his confidence in Hamilton’s integrity and assured that he had no doubt that Hamilton would remain involved in the development of the Mercedes car even if he joined a rival team.
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes marks the end of a long-standing relationship that dates back to the Mercedes-backed contract he signed with McLaren when he was just 13 years old. Mercedes has played a major role in Hamilton’s efforts to promote diversity in F1 in recent years, including its Ignite program in 2021.
As the F1 landscape continues to evolve following Hamilton’s unexpected move, fans and the racing world eagerly await the next chapter in Hamilton’s career, finding a new driving partner for Russell at Ferrari and Mercedes.
