Toto Wolff: “Lewis Hamilton deserved to be the greatest of all time”

Three years later, the pain remains very present. Toto Wolff admits that the memory of the controversial ending of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, where Lewis Hamilton was defeated by Max Verstappen during a contentious Grand Prix finale, is still etched in the mind of the Mercedes boss, who confesses to frequently thinking about it. In the High Performance podcast, the Austrian revealed that he still reflects every week on the circumstances of this significant setback for Lewis Hamilton.

“I think about it especially because I believe Lewis would have deserved to be the greatest of all time with eight world championship titles,” emphasizes Toto Wolff. “We can always discuss that year, but I think Max and Lewis both deserved to be champions. There were moments during the year when Max lost points he shouldn’t have lost. In Silverstone, in Monza where both had their collision. Both deserved to be champions. But that afternoon in Abu Dhabi was unfair.”

A significant moment for the Brackley team.

This event is now part of the history of Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton, and Mercedes in Formula 1. The failure of the 2021 season has become a strong symbol for the German team, serving as both a lesson and a source of motivation for the team. In Brackley, UK, the Mercedes W12 from that year is displayed in the lobby of the factory. According to Toto Wolff, it’s a way to remember the highs and lows of that season and to inspire the team. This car is a powerful reminder of the joys and pains that a situation can provoke, says the Austrian leader.

“I really tried to talk to Michael and guide him throughout the year, to tell him: ‘Listen, I’ve been in this sport for a long time, listen to the drivers, don’t always be stubborn in your decision-making, don’t be arrogant’,” confides the Austrian. “I tried this for the good of the sport and obviously also for us as a team, to not be vulnerable to situations that could be totally detrimental. In this sense, what happened is inexcusable.”

Mercedes’s Team Principal also addressed the role of Michael Masi during this intense 2021 season. Although the Austrian refrained from elaborating on the subject, he claims to have tried to support the former race director throughout the championship, up until the tragic conclusion in Abu Dhabi. “Now, you could say I should show empathy to understand what he’s feeling,” he adds.

« I know how he feels and I know it’s not right. But he could have thought about it throughout the year [2021], while people, not just me, were trying to support him in the right way. Sometimes you have to realize when someone does what they want or makes their own decisions. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t worry about it anymore. »