Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed why Mercedes “likes” the fact that Lewis Hamilton is leaving them for Ferrari next year.
Hamilton shocked the Formula One world earlier this year when he revealed he was leaving the team that helped him win six world championship titles for one of his rivals.
He has signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari and has three races left until he changes his overalls and car to red and begins his partnership with Charles Leclerc in his new team.
It will end a 12-year relationship between Mercedes and seven-time world champion Hamilton, which the Briton joined in 2013.
But it’s a move that not only Hamilton but his boss Wolff are happy to see happening, and the Austrian explained why with a five-word message to his current driver.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has explained why he “likes” the fact that Lewis Hamilton (pictured) is leaving
Wolff (pictured) spoke about the departure of his star man, which was announced earlier this year.
Hamilton and Wolff have worked together for more than a decade and have enjoyed much success.
“Everyone has a lifespan,” said Matt Whyman, author of Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane, adding: “We’re in a sport where cognitive acuity is extremely important.”
“I absolutely had it on my radar that Lewis would go. I just couldn’t understand why he would move to another team before we knew if we were going to be competitive.
“I also didn’t have time to react, I had to make an emergency call to our partners and possibly missed the opportunity to negotiate with other drivers who had signed contracts a few weeks before, such as Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.
‘(But) I like the situation. It helps us because it avoids the moment in which we have to tell the most emblematic driver in this sport that we want to stop.”
Hamilton is now 39 years old and the second-oldest driver on next year’s grid, behind his former teammate Fernando Alonso, who is 43.
At Mercedes he will be replaced by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, who currently competes in Formula 2 and will make his debut in Formula 1.
The teenager will team up with George Russell, who is 26 years old and has moved to Mercedes in 2022.
“I need to look at the next generation,” said Wolff, who also joined Mercedes in 2013. “The same thing happens in football.
He cited the need to look to the future, as Hamilton will be the second oldest on the grid next year at 39 years old.
He will be replaced at Mercedes by 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli (pictured), who will partner 26-year-old George Russell.
Hamilton issues a curious message on his team radio after a difficult weekend in Brazil
“Coaches like Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola anticipated this in the performance of their main stars and brought in youth players who boosted the team for the next few years.”
Hamilton struggled in Brazil last time out in what has been a stop-start season, qualifying 16th and only managing to finish tenth.
He raised eyebrows after the race when he told team radio: “It’s been a disastrous weekend, guys.” The worst the car has been. Thanks for contributing to the attempt and great job to all the guys at the pit stop.
“If this is the last time I’m going to perform, it’ll be a shame it wasn’t great, but I’m grateful for you.”
It was the latest result of a run that has seen Hamilton struggle in the latter stages of the season, failing to find a podium in any of the last seven races.
He won two races earlier this season but is seventh in the drivers’ championship, below Russell and the likes of Carlos Sainz, whom he will replace at Ferrari.
Still, he is set to watch the remaining three races of the season in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi before parting ways with the team.
Hamilton is in the hunt for an illustrious eighth world title which would leave him ahead of the most titles ever won by a driver, ahead of Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher, who also has seven.
However, former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone told Mail Sport’s F1 Confidential that he doesn’t think Hamilton can do it despite switching teams.
“I don’t think he will,” said Ecclestone, who turned 94 last week. “I don’t think it will be easy for Lewis.
‘Especially on that team. They will support Charles Leclerc. He’s fast and he’s grown there. They won’t leave him for anyone.
