Toto Wolff defends Lewis Hamilton: « He hasn’t died out, he can give Ferrari a lot »
As Lewis Hamilton makes a difficult start to the 2025 season with Ferrari, his former Mercedes manager Toto Wolff comes to his defense in the face of criticism. The seven-time world champion, who left Mercedes after 12 successful years, is struggling to adapt to his new team, raising questions about his performance.
Since joining Ferrari, Hamilton has not yet regained the level of performance that characterized him at Mercedes. At the Miami Grand Prix, he finished in eighth place, behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, after a race marked by strategic tensions within the team. Hamilton expressed his frustration over the radio, criticizing the team’s decisions and sarcastically asking if they were going to take a tea break.
Wolff highlights the untapped potential of Lewis Hamilton
Despite these difficulties, Toto Wolff remains convinced of the Briton’s talent. « I think we saw that magic in the sprint race [in Shanghai]. He was completely dominating that race. It’s not like you have the magic in one race and suddenly lose it in the next. I firmly believe it’s still there. »
Wolff nevertheless acknowledges the challenges Hamilton faces: « He has been with us for 12 years, and his way of operating has evolved. He has been placed at Ferrari, where his teammate [Charles Leclerc] has been for a long time, and he is clearly one of the best. So, from the outside, and talking to him, it is a path that every new driver must follow in a top-level team. »
A new dynamic at Mercedes
With the departure of the seven-time world champion, Mercedes reorganized their team, placing George Russell as the senior driver alongside the young Andrea Kimi Antonelli. George has made a huge step forward as the senior driver in the team. Kimi is almost like the little brother who arrived. They work well together, which is very nice to see. Kimi doesn’t stress too much; she just constantly improves her performance. And with George, you can count on him for lap times and race times, so morale is high.
A promising future still for Hamilton
Despite the criticism and challenges, Hamilton remains determined to succeed at Ferrari. His victory in the sprint race in China demonstrates that he still has the skills necessary to perform at the highest level. As Wolff pointed out, true champions manage to face it and overcome it.
