Toto Wolff has no sympathy for his former protégé Lewis Hamilton, who is currently in crisis: Ferrari driver strong enough to turn things around
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff spoke at length about Lewis Hamilton’s current situation at Ferrari. The Austrian defends the seven-time world champion after his recent self-doubt, emphasizes his qualities, and explains why Hamilton could still be a title contender in the future despite difficult circumstances.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was celebrated at the beginning of the year as one of the biggest transfers in modern Formula 1. But the start was bumpy, and the Briton recently even said that he should be replaced. For Wolff, this is a moment that should not be overrated.
“No one should ever feel sorry for Lewis Hamilton. He is a monster of a driver,” says Wolff. “When he says after a race that he should be replaced, it’s simply an expression of his emotions. I told him that same evening that it was wrong. Lewis is still the GOAT. When he retires one day, no one will measure him by his Ferrari chapter – just as Michael Schumacher is not defined today by his Mercedes years.”
Frustration at Ferrari – but nothing new
Wolff makes it clear that Hamilton’s frustrations at Ferrari are visible, but they are by no means unique or new: “He had moments like that with us too, when he was unhappy with strategy decisions or the car wasn’t performing the way he wanted it to. The only difference is that in a familiar environment, you can let off steam more quickly. In a new team, you don’t know the people that well yet. That makes it more difficult.“
However, Wolff still understands Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes after many years: ”He needed a change of scenery. Ferrari looked strong last year, we weren’t as competitive. And Ferrari is Ferrari – every driver wants to drive there at some point. The reasons for his move are still valid today.“
Age, experience and title chances
When asked whether Hamilton could still win titles at the age of 40, Wolff is convinced: ”You don’t lose your skills from one day to the next. Of course, a driver may slow down a little on a fast lap. But he makes up for it with experience. Alonso is the best example of this. With a competitive car, Lewis can definitely still become world champion.“
Wolff emphasizes that in Formula 1, it’s the equipment that counts above all else: ”In the end, it’s always the car that decides. If you have the best car, you just have to beat your teammate. If Ferrari had the best car, Lewis could definitely win a world championship with his experience.”
Language barrier and Italian authenticity
One thing that is unfamiliar to Hamilton in Maranello is the language. Wolff: “The colloquial language at Ferrari is Italian—in the garage, in meetings, in hospitality. That’s an additional challenge for him because he’s almost exclusively driven in English-speaking teams so far.”
Nevertheless, Wolff emphasizes that this is precisely what makes Ferrari so special: “Of course, it’s unusual in a global series for a team to rely so heavily on one language. But it makes Ferrari authentic. They are the Italian national team of Formula 1. Even if they haven’t won a title in over 15 years, the aura remains.“
In the end, Wolff is optimistic that Hamilton will soon overcome his slump: ”Lewis just needs one or two good race weekends, then we’ll see a completely different Hamilton again.”