Fernando Alonso called Toto Wolff when he heard Lewis Hamilton was leaving Mercedes
That same afternoon, I received calls from several other drivers," said the Mercedes boss. Fernando Alonso called Toto Wolff when he heard that Lewis Hamilton was leaving Mercedes to sign for Ferrari.
Fernando Alonso picked up his phone to call Toto Wolff when he learned that Mercedes would have an unexpected vacancy next season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff talked about the rumors that preceded Lewis Hamilton’s announcement regarding his departure from the team.
Lewis Hamilton will start a new chapter with Ferrari in 2025.
“I was not at all shocked,” said Toto Wolff to The Guardian, the British news outlet, about Lewis Hamilton’s visit to deliver the bad news.
« I knew it was being prepared for a few weeks when I received a call from Carlos Sainz and his father. He told me, ‘Something is happening.’ I replied, ‘Why would this happen before the start of the season?’ But that same afternoon, I received calls from several other drivers close to Charles Leclerc. Fernando Alonso too. »
I think it started with Leclerc, who knew since winter, then his closest allies learned that there was a free spot. I told Susie: ‘This is happening without us officially knowing anything.’ » Toto Wolff sent a message to his counterpart at Ferrari, Fred Vasseur, who is also a close friend, but it went unanswered.
No resentment towards Hamilton
He chose not to confront Lewis Hamilton personally. I didn’t want to put him in a situation where he would have to lie to me, because at that point, the contract wasn’t signed, said the German.
Lewis Hamilton will seek to win a record eighth F1 world championship with Ferrari in 2025. Mercedes will bring in rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while George Russell will become their senior driver.
“There is an emotional side, because we have traveled this road together,” said Toto Wolff about Lewis Hamilton.
« The relationships will change, but not the depth of emotion. On the contrary. It will be a new friendship with Lewis. On a professional level, I still see benefits in the change. We have new regulations, we have reorganized our structure, and we are entering a new era with our senior driver who is going to be 27 years old and our young 18-year-old driver. Together, our two drivers are barely older than Lewis. It’s very exciting », he concludes.
