“Always Hated It,” Toto Wolff Reveals Dreadful Moment with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff revealed the one thing he and Lewis Hamilton hated about their relationship.

“Always Hated It,” Toto Wolff Reveals Dreadful Moment with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

Toto Wolff (via PlanetF1) and Lewis Hamilton (via Getty images)

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Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff had one of the strongest bonds in Formula 1. The two achieved record-breaking success at Mercedes during the Turbo Hybrid era. While Hamilton decided to join Maranello earlier this year, Wolff has opened up on one aspect of their relationship that both of them hated.

Toto Wolff is currently in the middle of securing his driver line-up for next year. After reportedly failing to secure Max Verstappen, the Austrian billionaire is likely to extend the contracts of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. However, Wolff recalled a tipping point regarding negotiations when it came to Lewis Hamilton.

The Mercedes team boss pointed out that negotiations become difficult when you are holding discussions with your driver. He admitted that such talks were always an issue with Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton would usually sign long term deals with the Silver Arrows. This allowed Hamilton and Wolff to have a strong and friendly relationship for almost two and a half years. The two would share every part of their lives with one another. However, in the last few months, tensions rose due to the negotiations.

What makes it even more tricky is that you’re negotiating with someone who is your ally. Someone where your objectives are pretty close. So for Lewis and me, it was always a problem. Because, for two and a half years, we were the greatest of friends. And 100% aligned, and we shared our private lives and everything. And then we had those two months of negotiation.

Toto Wolff told Formula.hu

Toto Wolff accepted that he and Lewis Hamilton completely dreaded having discussions. He reckoned that it might be the only time when the two had differences. Ultimately, things reached such a point that the two found a third person to deal with it. The Austrian billionaire asserted that things made things much quicker.

And both of us always hated it. Because in that situation, maybe you’re not aligned. So finally we changed it, and we got someone else involved who did that. And it was sorted out within a few days.

Toto Wolff added

Toto Wolff wants to avoid ’emotional’ Lewis Hamilton-like negotiations

F1 drivers are passionate racers who want the best for themselves. It is thus no surprise that things became difficult for Toto Wolff when he held talks with Lewis Hamilton. After all, the British driver was only trying to get favorable terms with the contract.

Lewis Hamilton (via F1)
Lewis Hamilton during an F1 press conference (via F1)

Wolff accepted that things would always be tricky with drivers, be it Lewis Hamilton or even Nico Rosberg. The Austrian billionaire pointed out that drivers are emotional beings. Instead, professionals are better for a more rational approach when it comes to discussions as they hold such negotiations on a daily basis.

So that’s why with Nico and with George and all the drivers it’s always going to be tricky. On one side, you want to be in a good place in a relationship. On the other side, sometimes negotiations are tough. And it’s difficult when the other side is emotional and a sports person rather than someone who does it every day.

Toto Wolff explained

Certainly, Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff had some difficulties over the years. However, the two continue to have a strong bond. Previously, Wolff had mentioned that Hamilton still discusses his personal life with him. Despite being in rival teams, this duo still wants to see each other succeed. Though, fans rarely spot them together in the paddock.

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