Lewis Hamilton faced ‘dreaded conversation’ with Toto Wolff if he stayed at Mercedes

Toto Wolff was left heartbroken by Lewis Hamilton leaving him for Ferrari, but he at least avoided having to sack the Brit at some point himself.

Wolff was asked about such a situation while discussing his former driver’s tough start in Italy.

Getty

AFP

The Mercedes team principal and CEO was left stunned, much like the rest of Formula 1, when Hamilton announced a switch to the Scuderia early last year.

Yet sadly for the 40-year-old, it so far hasn’t worked out, as he approaches the longest run without a podium in the team’s history, upping his count to 15 races last time out with a crash in the Netherlands.

Hamilton’s lack of form is a continuation of his struggles at Mercedes, going winless for two years in 2022 and 2023 after sweeping regulation changes.

When it was put to Wolff that a farewell from his side may not have been too far away had Hamilton stayed, he responded that it would have been, ‘very difficult’.

He added: “That would have been a scenario that, for me, from a personal perspective and as Mercedes, would have been something that we would have dreaded to have this conversation.” 

Wolff was willing to lose prodigy to keep Hamilton

Part of Hamilton’s reason for swapping silver for red was reportedly due to a multi-year contract being on offer, but Wolff insisted the team weren’t planning on changing drivers any time soon, in fact, they risked losing young talent Kimi Antonelli by keeping him.

“We were prepared to take a risk,” the Austrian billionaire said. “But you can’t say to a Lewis Hamilton, ‘we’re finishing this’. 

“So, he did it. And that’s how it was meant to be. And that’s the trajectory we’re on today.”

Hamilton’s Ferrari move was right, says Wolff

Neither party has exactly stunned since what Wolff called their ‘divorce’ with Ferrari just 12 points ahead in the constructor’s championship.

They’ve also both been unable to win a race, or get anywhere near McLaren for that matter.

Getty

Yet Wolff continues to defend Hamilton’s choice to leave the team, as he has done since the move was first announced.

“All the reasons he had to go to Ferrari are still valid today,” he said. 

“He needed a change of environment, and we needed a change of environment. We weren’t as competitive as we would have wished. Ferrari looked better. 

“Every racing driver wants to race in Ferrari. He likes the colour red anyway. The deal that was on the table was very good.

“These reasons are still valid today. Now, he’s going against one of the best drivers also, of the younger ones, who’s been in the team for a long time, with a car that drives totally different than ours.”

Further defending the man he won six driver’s titles and eight constructors’ championships alongside, Wolff also thinks Hamilton’s age won’t prohibit him from getting back to winning ways.

Getty

He explained: “You don’t lose your capability from one day to the other.

“A driver or a sportsperson can compensate a decline of performance in some areas with overperformance in others. Let’s say, your experience can compensate for maybe a lesser speed on a single lap. 

“I’ve seen [Fernando] Alonso, he’s always been able to compensate. So, I believe Lewis with a car that gives him the confidence and the feedback can still be very good.”