With just three races left in the 2024 season, attention is already turning to 2025 and Lewis Hamilton's long-awaited debut at Ferrari. The announcement, which came in February, had surprised the Formula 1 world, but for Toto Wolff the news was not entirely unexpected: in a recent interview, the Mercedes team principal revealed that he had received a "tip-off" directly from Carlos Sainz Sr., father of the Ferrari driver who will leave the team to make room for Hamilton.
Wolff: “Carlos Sainz Sr. he told me what was about to happen”
“Two weeks before the official announcement, the old Sainz called me and told me what was going to happen,” Toto Wolff said. “Then I started getting calls from other drivers, people who don’t usually contact me. That’s when I knew something big was going to happen.” Sainz Sr.’s call was Wolff’s first sign of the coming change, revealing a deal that would mark the end of Hamilton’s era at Mercedes and open a new chapter with Ferrari.
Vasseur's silence: an unmistakable signal
After speaking with Sainz Sr., Wolff decided to contact Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal and a longtime friend. “I sent him a message asking, ‘Are you taking our driver?’ I didn’t get a response, which was very unusual for Fred. We are good friends, so his silence was a clear signal,” Wolff explained. Vasseur’s lack of response confirmed his suspicions: the deal between Hamilton and Ferrari was a done deal.
Wolff and Vasseur’s relationship has always been one of mutual respect and a friendship built over time. However, this episode has put their relationship to the test. “It was a business decision,” Wolff admitted. “We were successful together with Lewis, but now we have different goals. I didn’t try to convince him to stay, because if a driver thinks he can do better elsewhere, you have to let him go. It’s a philosophy I share, and I also learned it from talking to friends like Pep Guardiola.”
Wolff's reaction and the new era for Mercedes
When Hamilton visited Wolff’s house to officially announce his decision, the Austrian said he had already guessed it. “We started talking like we always do, about Christmas holidays and routine things,” Wolff said. “Then Lewis said, ‘There’s something I have to tell you.’ That’s when I knew it was really happening. I can’t imagine you anywhere else but with Mercedes, but I accepted his choice.”
Hamilton informed Wolff that he would activate an exit clause in his contract, leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025. For Wolff, the seven-time world champion’s decision was a blow, but he approached the situation pragmatically, immediately starting to plan the team’s future.
Mercedes looks ahead with Kimi Antonelli
With Hamilton's farewell, Mercedes has decided to focus on Kimi Antonelli, young Italian talent ready to debut in Formula 1. Toto Wolff expressed full confidence in the young driver, calling him one of the most interesting promises in motorsport. “It will be a difficult path, but I firmly believe that Kimi is ready to take on this challenge,” said Wolff. Mercedes is therefore preparing for an important transition phase, looking to the future with optimism despite the end of an era dominated by Hamilton.
Source statements: FormulaPassion
