Lewis Hamilton responds to Toto Wolff's controversial shelf-life remark
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton responded to team principal Toto Wolff's controversial "shelf life" remark ahead of the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Earlier, Wolff had spoken about his reaction to Hamilton leaving the German team at the end of the 2024 season in a tell-all book titled Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane of Formula 1.
The Austrian remarked that he was initially taken aback by the seven-time F1 world champion's decision to switch to Ferrari for 2025 but believed that he had envisioned his exit as he believed that everyone had a "shelf life" in the sport.
However recently, Wolff backtracked on his comments and gave a justification for his views. Speaking with Sky Sports, Lewis Hamilton mentioned that he was still "standing" and was in the best place mentally in his last three races with Mercedes. He said:
"No. I think just me being here standing tall, I feel strong, I've been training well, I feel great. Honestly, I feel in the best place I've been all year mentally, and considering how bad the last race was, I think that says enough. I've been around this game for a long time."
Hamilton even added that he did not have anything to prove to anyone in the sport:
"There's been so many things that are said about me, there's been so many micro-aggressions - obviously not from my boss because he's been supportive over all these years and we've achieved a lot together - but I mean in general, within the media and through it all, and nothing can take me down."
Lewis Hamilton reflects on his Brazilian GP weekend
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton stated that after the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, he did not want to come back to the track as he finished P10 in the main race after starting from P16.
As quoted by the aforementioned source, the Briton reflected on his disappointment and termed it as "in the moment", saying:
"I mean, in the moment that's how I felt like I didn't really want to come back after that weekend. But I think that's only natural. It's frustrating when you have a season like this, which I'm pretty sure I won't have again, or at least I'll work towards not having again.
"It wasn't a great feeling at that moment, but I'm here, I'm standing strong and I'm going to give it absolutely everything for these last few races."
Lewis Hamilton is currently P7 in the driver's championship with 190 points to his name after 21 races and five sprints this year. He would look to get on the podium at least one more time in the last three races to close his chapter with Mercedes on a positive note.