In a shocking twist to the 2024 Formula 1 season, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has made it clear that he holds no regrets over the decisions that will see seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton depart the team at the end of the season, marking the end of a historic partnership.
The once-unthinkable move was revealed earlier this season when it became known that Hamilton had an exit clause in his contract, allowing him to switch to Ferrari for 2025. This news blindsided fans and set the stage for a dramatic conclusion to Hamilton’s 12-year tenure at Mercedes, during which he has become the most successful driver in F1 history with 104 wins and counting.
Wolff, speaking to the BBC, has expressed no remorse over the way the situation unfolded, explaining that the team had been transparent with Hamilton throughout negotiations. Initially, Mercedes proposed a single-term contract, which evolved into a ‘one plus one’ deal, designed to keep their options open. But as Wolff sought to secure the future of rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it became clear that Hamilton’s long-term future would be elsewhere.
Reflecting on the situation, Wolff said: “We decided as a team for that and we were always very transparent with Lewis… There are no bad feelings, no betrayal.”
While many fans may be stunned by the decision, Wolff believes that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari could be a fresh start, both for the driver and Mercedes. “Maybe he needed to, in a way, change and reinvent himself. Being a driver for Ferrari is super-prestigious,” Wolff remarked, adding that Mercedes, too, would benefit from a new direction.
The Hamilton-Mercedes partnership is one of the most successful in the history of the sport, dating back to 2012 when the Briton left McLaren to join a then-struggling Mercedes. The move would prove to be career-defining, as Hamilton went on to claim six of his seven world titles with the Silver Arrows, tying Michael Schumacher for the most championships in F1 history.
But despite the heartbreak of Hamilton’s controversial 2021 title loss to Max Verstappen, where FIA Race Director Michael Masi was accused of mishandling the final race, Wolff insists that Hamilton’s legacy is untouchable. “He is the greatest F1 driver of all time,” Wolff stated confidently, noting that Hamilton’s record-breaking career speaks for itself.
Wolff added that while the outcome of the 2021 championship was deeply unfair, the team has come to terms with it. “We can’t turn back time… there are worse things than losing a race or a World Championship.”
As Hamilton prepares for his new chapter at Ferrari, the focus will shift to whether he can claim the elusive eighth title that would cement his place as the undisputed greatest of all time. Meanwhile, Mercedes, under Wolff’s leadership, will look to the future with Antonelli and George Russell, aiming to rebuild and reclaim their dominance in the sport.
For now, though, the end of an era looms large, as Hamilton and Mercedes prepare to part ways after 12 years of unprecedented success.
