A covert promise made by Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, to ace driver Lewis Hamilton has been unveiled thanks to Netflix’s Drive to Survive series. The disclosure divulges a commitment from Wolff to Hamilton that he wouldn’t pursue the signing of Max Verstappen while the British driver remained with the team.
The revelation came to light during a conversation between Wolff and his spouse, Susie, about potential replacements after Hamilton confirmed his move to Ferrari. Among the candidates mentioned were Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, but it was the suggestion of Verstappen that brought forth Wolff’s hitherto undisclosed commitment to Hamilton.
“I haven’t talked to him because I promised Lewis not to talk to him,” Wolff admitted, referring to Verstappen. “But I will have the conversation now.”
The undercurrent of tension between Hamilton and Verstappen was hardly a secret during the 2021 season where both drivers fiercely contested for the championship title. Hamilton had been vocal about his dissatisfaction with Verstappen’s on-track discipline, branding him as one of the most unregulated drivers he’d ever raced against.
“I’ve avoided collisions on so many occasions with the guy,” Hamilton stated, adding that Verstappen consistently pushed the boundaries of the rules.
The rivalry seemed to wane as Hamilton and Mercedes lost their championship momentum, but Wolff’s promise indicates that the competitive animosity was far from forgotten. However, with Hamilton’s departure, Wolff seems determined to sign Verstappen, a development revealed during a behind-the-scenes meeting between the Mercedes boss, head of communications Bradley Lord, and driver development advisor Gwen Lagrue.
“It’s so difficult with Max,” Wolff confessed. “There’s a one percent chance that Max changes his mind.”
Predictably, Wolff’s pursuit of Verstappen failed to amuse Red Bull’s Christian Horner, who found himself inundated with queries regarding Verstappen’s future from various quarters, including Honda staff. Horner remained resolute, suggesting that Wolff should target another Verstappen for 2025.
“I think it is purely a distraction tactic from Toto — and if he does want a Verstappen for next year, I guess Jos is potentially available,” Horner quipped during an interview in Austria.
In Horner’s view, the driver market’s volatility was largely triggered by Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes, which brought on speculation about who would fill the vacancy. However, he was adamant that Verstappen would not be Hamilton’s successor.
As the dust settles on this revelation, the paddock and fans alike are left to ponder the impact of Wolff’s promise and its potential implications on the driver market.
