“I don’t think he would say no,” F1 journalist claims Toto Wolff would let Lewis Hamilton go if he receives an offer from Ferrari
F1 journalist Peter Windsor is convinced that Toto Wolff would not stop Lewis Hamilton from joining Ferrari.
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Lewis Hamilton signing autographs amidst a Ferrari flag (Via F1)
Lewis Hamilton achieved record-breaking success with Mercedes since joining the German team in 2013. However, the Silver Arrows have been struggling in recent years. The 38-year-old was left frustrated because of the underwhelming machinery. F1 journalist and former team manager Peter Windsor reckons Mercedes wouldn’t stop Hamilton from joining Ferrari.
Windsor believed that the British driver might grow frustrated if his team fails to provide him with a competitive car. This could incline Hamilton to be open to joining Ferrari if they approach him. Subsequently, the 38-year-old would ask team boss Toto Wolff to end their decade-long journey at Brackley.
Peter stated, “My view is that if the Mercedes is not a great car and, say, Lewis doesn’t win a race [and] maybe George [Russell] doesn’t win a race and if he’s got another year on his contract if he said to Toto Wolff: ‘Toto, I’ve given you everything. I’ve now had two years of a bad car. I’ve got a mega offer from Ferrari and I want to take it. Will you look into my eye and shake my hand and we’ll call it quits?’”
The 71-year-old was convinced that in such a scenario, Wolff would allow Hamilton to leave even if the contract was still in place. He continued, “I think Toto would do that. I don’t think he would say: ‘No, you’ve got a contract. You must drive for us’”.
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Toto Wolff “can’t tie” down Lewis Hamilton with a contract, reckons Peter Windsor
The former F1 team manager mentioned the possibility of Hamilton taking a lesson from Nigel Mansell‘s book and quitting altogether if he is not happy. He stated, “He’d do a [Nigel] Mansell – if it ever came down to that.” Although Peter insisted that things would not come to this point and the British driver would soon be back to winning ways.
The Australian was confident that Wolff himself would be aware that he can’t secure Hamilton’s services with a contract. However, George Russell and Mick Schumacher would be bounded by their contracts.
Peter Windsor is convinced that Wolff would let Hamilton leave for Ferrari if the opportunity arises. Hamilton has been an integral part of the Silver Arrows for a long time now. As such Lewis is often seen as the face of the German team. Subsequently, things will need to take a drastic turn before the champion makes such a move.
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