Lewis Hamilton’s sudden move to Ferrari shocked the entire F1 world. The Briton was enduring a rough patch with Mercedes. Despite winning six of his seven world titles with the team, he could not rekindle the mojo. As a result, the 39-year-old racer went winless in two straight seasons. The 2024 season has been no different, apart from a slight revival in Silverstone and Austria. Besides those two race wins, the Briton has struggled to control the W15, causing severe trouble.
As a result, the Briton wanted to change things for his world title quest. Thus, he signed a contract with Scuderia, relishing his childhood dream. While the news surprised the entire paddock, Wolff saw the move coming. In a recent interview, the Austrian executive revealed the person who first hinted at Hamilton’s departure.
Carlos Sainz Sr. Gave Official ‘Hamilton Exit’ Confirmation To Wolff
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff recently shared insights into Lewis Hamilton’s surprising decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 and how he had received an early hint from Carlos Sainz Sr. Wolff recalled that, while Hamilton’s official announcement came in January during a visit to his home, he had been aware of possible changes for some time.
Wolff recounted on the High Performance podcast that Carlos Sainz Sr., father of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr., was the first to alert him to the potential shift. About two weeks before Hamilton’s visit, Sainz Sr. called Wolff and hinted that something major was in the works. Soon after, Wolff noticed that several other drivers’ fathers, who had previously been out of contact, started reaching out to him, further raising his suspicions.
To confirm his growing sense of Hamilton’s departure, Wolff reached out to Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur, texting him directly to ask if Ferrari was planning to sign Hamilton. Receiving no response—a rare occurrence with his good friend Vasseur—only strengthened Wolff’s intuition that big changes were indeed on the horizon.
Toto Wolff Had No Intention Of Persuading Hamilton To Stay
Toto Wolff openly acknowledged that he felt no urge to convince Lewis Hamilton to stay with Mercedes. For Wolff, if someone decides to leave, it’s essential to respect their decision and allow them to move on.
He shared a piece of advice he once received from Pep Guardiola, with whom he’d discussed handling high-profile departures. Wolff recalled asking Guardiola how he dealt with players leaving, whether he tried to persuade them to stay. Guardiola’s response was straightforward: if a player believes they can excel elsewhere or earn more, it’s best to let them go without resistance. Wolff said he’s embraced this approach with Hamilton, aiming to make the transition as smooth and positive as possible for both sides.
