Toto Wolff opens up on dealing with emotions over Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes farewell
Toto Wolff believes Mercedes parting ways with Lewis Hamilton at the season finale in Abu Dhabi will be an emotional milestone for the team. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, after the Qatar GP, the Mercedes team principal and co-owner acknowledged the strong bond the team has shared with the seven-time world champion over the past 12 years and anticipated an emotional conclusion to their partnership as the season draws to a close.
During his remarkable tenure with Mercedes, Hamilton has achieved extraordinary success, securing six of his seven world titles and contributing significantly to the team’s eight Constructors’ championships. Out of his record 105 race victories, 85 have been achieved with the Silver Arrows, making it the most successful chapter of his career. In 2025, the Brit will transition to Ferrari, marking a new era in his F1 journey.
Reflecting on their time together, Wolff acknowledged that the reality of Hamilton’s departure hasn’t fully sunk in yet but expects emotions to heighten as they approach the Abu Dhabi GP. He expressed his hope that the team can deliver a competitive performance in the final race, aiming to end their historic partnership on a high note.
Asked by Sportskeeda how emotional it will be for Mercedes to part with Lewis Hamilton in Abu Dhabi after the long successful partnership, Wolff said:
“So yeah, it will be emotional. In a way it just doesn't touch us yet so much, because we are right in the melee of everything, you know, we're fighting. We’re trying to do our best every session every day But the closer it comes, the closer it gets, the more emotional it would be and then particularly then Sunday, the last leg, the last race I hope we can recover a little bit from what we've seen this weekend.”
Toto Wolff highlights the strength of Mercedes' relationship with Lewis Hamilton
Toto Wolff reflected on the challenges of the 2024 season, emphasizing that despite the difficulties, the bond between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes remains unshaken. The Mercedes team principal credited their 12 years of shared success as the foundation of their enduring partnership, which has weathered the ups and downs of recent seasons.
Wolff acknowledged that the last two years have been tough for both the team and the seven-time world champion, but highlighted their collective effort in navigating through the struggles. Addressing the challenges with the W15, Wolff explained that the car has been particularly difficult to drive, with its performance hampered by its sensitivity to high-grip conditions. He noted that both Hamilton and his teammate, George Russell, have faced similar struggles in extracting performance from the car, underscoring the tricky nature of its design.
Looking ahead to the Abu Dhabi GP, Wolff expressed optimism, stating that the final race will serve as a celebration of their historic partnership with Hamilton. He believes that the challenges of the past will fade into the background as the team focuses on ending their journey together on a high note.
Asked how the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes has been in 2024, given that it has been its most difficult phase, Wolff replied:
"First of all globally seeing, we have this amazing partnership that has gone over 12 years with all eight Constructors' championships and six Drivers’ (titles) with him and I don’t know how many races he won. 85 or 86 with us. So that's the overarching feeling and I think when I speak to Lewis, that's something which we are holding dearly. Now, this last races, maybe even the whole season, and the last two, was clearly not what we expect.
"You know, that car is a handful to drive on its worst days, like it was today. The moment the grip kicks in, it just doesn't turn, and both drivers had an equal situation. So we have one more to go, we will continue to give it our out most and we will celebrate the partnership the relationship that we had and then those few races will be forgotten quickly, as much as it as it hurts at the moment.”
Mercedes currently sit fourth in the Constructors’ Championship with a total of 446 points. George Russell has contributed 235 points, placing him sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, while Lewis Hamilton has scored 211 points, placing him seventh. Despite Russell securing two race victories this season, Hamilton ended his own winless streak with an emotional triumph at the British GP in Silverstone — his first victory since the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP.
As the season concludes, Hamilton is preparing to leave Mercedes after 12 iconic years to embark on a new chapter with Ferrari in 2025. He will be succeeded at Mercedes by rising talent Kimi Antonelli, marking the start of a new era for the Brackley-based team.