WATCH: “Call me in 10 years and you can drive for Mercedes”- Toto Wolff shares a wholesome moment with a young racing talent

Toto Wolff joined the team in 2014 and made the team one of the most successful teams of F1.

WATCH: “Call me in 10 years and you can drive for Mercedes”- Toto Wolff shares a wholesome moment with a young racing talent

Toto Wolff with a young kid at the Mercedes motorhome (Credits: X)

Mercedes has dominated F1 in the Turbo Hybrid era since 2014 with eight consecutive constructor titles and seven driver titles, six secured by Lewis Hamilton. Now the team boss, Toto Wolff, pivotal to their reign, now inspired by a promising young talent, provides astute encouragement, expressing readiness to offer a seat in the team a decade hence.

Mercedes, while right now, is not the dominant force of F1, the team is still one of the most successful teams in history and is a dream place for many aspiring F1 drivers. At the Brazilian GP, a heartwarming incident echoed what happened to Hamilton when he was a young kid aspiring to be in F1. 

A young kid with a VIP pass and an FIA guest met the Mercedes boss at their motor home to receive an autograph on his cap. What followed mirrored one of the greatest encounters of all time. Wolff told the kid, “So you want to be a racing driver one day in Formula 1?” To which the the boy nodded excitedly, and Wolff said, “Very good, when you are a racing driver, you call me okay? And then we discuss whether you want to drive for Mercedes.” 

The two then high-fived each other and posed for a snap. The official X handle of Mercedes shared this video with a caption that read, “Call me in 10 years and you can drive for Mercedes.” This very line is the replica of the Hamilton and Ron Dennis interaction that took place back when Hamilton was only ten and aspiring to be an F1 driver. 

The encounter mirrors the iconic exchange between Lewis Hamilton and Ron Dennis

The journey down memory lane begins with Hamilton’s early days, marked by a crucial encounter with Ron Dennis that would shape the trajectory of his illustrious career. After clinching the British Karting Championship at 10, Hamilton set out to make influential contacts at the award ceremony. Inspired by his idol, Ayrton Senna, Hamilton’s sights were set on McLaren and Ron Dennis, the man associated with Senna during their glory days.

Ron Dennis and Lewis Hamilton
Ron Dennis and Lewis Hamilton when he was a kid (Credits: Reddit)

The turning point came when Ron Dennis, impressed by the young Hamilton’s determination, uttered the prophetic words, “Phone me in nine years.” This seemingly casual remark set a series of events that would eventually lead Hamilton to make his Formula 1 debut driving for McLaren, the team Dennis headed. 

Hamilton debuted for McLaren in 2007 and won the title the next year. The young boy from Kingsland has rewritten every single record in the history books and went on to become one of the most successful drivers in F1. The story of a young boy with big dreams encouraged by a seasoned figure in the Formula 1 world became the stuff of legend.

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