“I Can’t See [Lewis Hamilton] in Another Team”: Toto Wolff’s Succession Planning Crushed Mere Months After $110 Million Promise

There are a few pairings in Formula 1 that just feel right. It’s almost impossible to think about Michael Schumacher without also thinking about Ferrari and the other way around. The same is true with the duo of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. These two names were considered so inseparable that many including Mercedes boss Toto Wolff predicted Hamilton to stay with the team even beyond his F1 career. However, the confirmation of Hamilton switching over to Ferrari in 2025 has brought an end to all such hope.

When Lewis Hamilton signed a $110 million 2-year extension with Mercedes till the end of 2025, many thought that this would be his final stint in Formula 1 with the team that has helped him win 6 out of his 7 world championships. However, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is a clear indication that the British driver has made up his mind to bring down Red Bull and Max Verstappen by any means necessary.

Toto Wolff saw Lewis Hamilton taking up a leadership role at Mercedes

A week after Hamilton’s $110 million contract extension with Mercedes at the Italian GP weekend in 2023, Toto Wolff shed light on the things that went down behind the scenes. The Austrian emphasized that the negotiations took time due to discussions not only about sponsorships but also about Hamilton’s future beyond racing. Hamilton, known for his varied interests and his commitment to promoting inclusivity in motorsports, has an uncertain path post-F1.

However, Wolff remained confident that Lewis Hamilton would remain a part of Mercedes even when his racing days were over. According to a report from crash.net, Wolff remarked, “I think he can become a Team Principal or CEO; he has the right skills and personality. Lewis shaped this sport, and he will remain in F1.” He even went as far as to claim that Lewis would end his career with Mercedes. “He will end his career with us because I can’t see him in another team,“ he added.

However, as Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari is now confirmed, it looks like the 2-year extension with Mercedes was effectively just a 1-year deal with the option to continue in 2025 if he wanted to continue. Mercedes now has a monumental task at its hands to find a replacement for the 7-time world champion as they hope to bounce back in 2024.

READ MORE: “Don’t Feel the Desire to Remain Active in F1”: Lewis Hamilton Makes Big Retirement Statement While Addressing 8th Title Hopes

When Lewis Hamilton switched from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, it was hailed as a bad decision initially. But we all know that it was the best move of his career.

Has Hamilton timed his Ferrari move to perfection?

Lewis Hamilton has always been one to make long-term commitments in his career. Even at a young age, Hamilton wanted to drive in Formula 1 for McLaren, and Ron Dennis helped him achieve his dream. However, the team’s downfall in the early 2010s and the persistence of Niki Lauda made his switch to Mercedes possible. And we all know how that turned out. It was the perfect time for Hamilton to make that switch, as Mercedes would go on to dominate the sport in the turbo-hybrid era.

With the downfall of Mercedes in the ground-effect era, one would think that Hamilton has yet again timed his move to perfection. Ferrari clearly has the pace to match the Red Bull, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have shown that by claiming multiple pole positions in 2023. However, the team lacks the ability to put it all together on a race weekend. But with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari would hope that his experience and his demeanor would help the team iron out all the issues and become a proper challenger to Red Bull and Verstappen.

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Do you think Hamilton has made the move at the right time? Will Ferrari help him fight for the 8th title? Share your insights down below in the comments.