F1, Toto Wolff returns to Lewis Hamilton-Ferrari deal and reveals a backstory
Toto Wolff returns on Lewis Hamilton's deal with Ferrari
If it wasn't a lightning bolt out of the blue, it wasn't close. Toto Wolff, at the microphones of 'Sky Sport' on the sidelines of the Formula 1 tests in Bahrain, è returned to talk about the agreement between Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari, which will bring the seven-time world champion to drive the Cavallino’s single-seater from 2025, revealing a backstory: the Mercedes team boss in fact recounted the moment when Hamilton revealed his decision to him.
Lewis Hamilton and the deal with Ferrari: here is how Toto Wolff found out
"Lewis informed me of his decision by coming to see me at my home in Oxford,” explained the Mercedes executive director. “I must admit that the coffee we had, for me, è was quite bitter. I believe in any case that it was not easy for him to tell me that he was leaving us, in the same way it will not have been easy for Vasseurto confirm it to me when we spoke".
"It's been a choice thathas surprised me greatly – added Wolff, whose sporting association with Hamilton will therefore end at the end of this 2024 -. Clearly, the contract that bound him to us was for one year with an option for the second, so it could happen. However, I did not expect it, we made history together: forò è in the nature of things".
Kimi Antonelli instead of Lewis Hamilton? Toto Wolff does not blurt out
Therefore, the next few months will be important to choose the next driver who will go alongside George Russell in 2025: "I’m in no hurry to choose Lewis’ replacement – however, the Austrian executive made it clear -. The market evolves quickly, it will be necessary to wait for a few race weekends: in May the situation will be&strong>clearer".
One of the names circulating in the paddock è that of Kimi Antonelli, an Italian driver who will make his debut this year in Formula 2 and has been in the Mercedes orbit for some time: "He's a young driver, I like him – said Wolff. Forò he is only 17 years old, he will race for the first time this year in Formula 2 and he already has so much pressure on him, I don’t want to add any more".
Toto Wolff and the challenge to Red Bull: "We are confident"
Inevitable, finally, a joke about the Red Bull, also this year favorite for the title: "It's already started really strong in the tests – said the boss of the Mercedes wall – We però have confidence in our W15, we have changed philosophy and we are sure that it will get better results than the previous car, revealed hostile for the drivers".
