WATCH: Toto Wolff opens up on ‘bruising’ aspect of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton had earlier vowed to end his career with Mercedes.

WATCH: Toto Wolff opens up on ‘bruising’ aspect of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move

Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton (VIa: Imago, X/SkySportsF1, screenshot)

The 2024 F1 season is under full force with the summer break just around the corner. The summer break is usually anticipated to be filled with numerous transfer announcements owing to its record. However, the biggest announcement of the season came even before its commencement as Lewis Hamilton announced that he would drive a Ferrari in 2025. To which, Mercedes supremo, Toto Wolff explained the bruising aspect of this announcement.

Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 when the Brackley-based squad was a midfielder. The fortunes soon changed, as his move to the German marque is often reckoned to be the best career move ever as this earned him six world championships in the following seven years. However, after his last title bid remained unsuccessful in 2021, he has since been unable to challenge for the eighth title.

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This urged the Brit to take a difficult step in his career and decided to move to Ferrari in a last-ditch attempt. However, this left his long-time friend and boss, Toto Wolff betrayed.

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What was bruising is that I didn't have any time to react. It was basically the same day and when I said, 'How are we going to announce this? The beginning of the season or mid-season?' It was clear that it was leaking from Ferrari.
Toto Wolff via Sky Sports

The Austrian explained how the announcement was done in a hurry. He further claimed that he had no time to react to the situation at hand, and was unable to explain the situation to the stakeholders regarding his driver’s move. This left him dejected as he was able to map out that the whole situation was being dictated by Ferrari, which left him extremely hurt.

Toto Wolff holds no grudges against Lewis Hamilton

As explained earlier, Wolff elaborated on how he was left bruised with the Brit’s shock move. However, they have been allies for more than a decade and had a strong bond with each other which is not quite easy to break.

Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton
Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton (Via Imago)

Despite feeling betrayed, the 52-year-old looked at the situation from Hamilton’s perspective and accepted the reasons for his move away from Brackley.

If I put myself in his shoes, I can understand because the team wasn't doing very well. When you're in the last phase of your career, everyone wants to wear red overalls with a yellow prancing horse. Probably the financial terms were also very positive. So I got my head around it and I have absolute peace with him in my relationship.
Toto Wolff said in an interview with SkySportsF1

The Austrian explained that he understood that the team was not doing great. Moreover, it is every driver’s dream to drive for the elusive Scuderia outfit. Thus, he understood Hamilton’s reasons for the move to Ferrari.

Apart from this, the relationship between Wolff and Hamilton was recently under the spotlight as the Mercedes camp was alleged to have been sabotaging the Brit’s car. However, the team discarded such accusations and the former world champion is doing great as he claimed his first podium of the season in Spain, only a week ago.

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