Toto Wolff blames Lewis Hamilton for putting Mercedes ‘in a rush’ to fill 2025 seat

Hamilton's move to Ferrari has shaken up the whole driver's market going into the 2024 season.

Toto Wolff blames Lewis Hamilton for putting Mercedes ‘in a rush’ to fill 2025 seat

Lewis Hamilton, Mike Elliott and Toto Wolff (Images Via IMAGO)

Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, has criticized Lewis Hamilton for placing pressure on him to find a replacement driver for 2025. Six of Hamilton’s seven world championships have been won with the Silver Arrows and in August 2023 saw Lewis Hamilton sign a two-year contract extension with Mercedes, with the hopes of ending his career with the team. The seven-time champion, who had desired a multi-year contract, was forced to sign a one-plus-one agreement with the team.

But Hamilton has some other plans as he surprised the garage in February by announcing his decision to sign a multi-year contract with Ferrari in 2025 and beyond. Wolff has various options to fill Hamilton seat for 2025, but choosing the best option will be very risky.  As there will be a list of drivers who will be keen to join Mercedes at the end of 2024 season.

YouTube video

I’m in no hurry to decide on driver, I’ve been rushed in a hurry by Lewis. So I’ll just stand around and kind of take it easy and evaluate the market.

Wolff said, as reported by GP Blog

Wolff claimed that he is not in a hurry to decide a driver for 2025. Wolff then added that he will take Hamilton’s replacement easy. The Team Principal then stated that he will also evaluate driver market and will choose best of them. But Wolff knows choosing Hamilton’s replacement will not be easy.

FS Video

Red Bull might win every race in 2024, according to Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff, the manager of the Mercedes team, “unfortunately” believes the Red Bull driver will win nearly every race in Formula One in 2024. Max Verstappen, a three-time world champion who is aiming to win the championship for the fourth time in a row in Formula 1 in 2024. The Dutchman has emerged as the sport’s top dog in recent years. Sergio Perez taking a second position in race shows us, how much dominant is Red Bull.

Toto Wolff and Max Verstappen
Toto Wolff [L] and Max Verstappen [R] (images via IMAGO)

Wolff thinks Mercedes will face off against Ferrari and McLaren in the Formula One 2024 season. As the Bahrain Grand Prix indicated. Mercedes gave up one lap’s worth of performance for a setup that they thought would increase their race pace. However, it’s unclear if that gamble paid off because Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had battery problems. During the race Russell estimated that the loss of power cost them four tenths of a lap.

Red Bull were setting the pace and Mercedes was far behind. With George Russell and Hamilton struggling in fifth and seventh place, respectively. Mercedes has not finished on the top step of the podium since Russell won the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. The British driver leaving for Ferrari, showcase for 2026 upcoming regulation the team needs to work a lot to challenge the front grid again.

In Case you missed it: