Lewis Hamilton’s Need to Be “Pampered and Praised” by Toto Wolff; Exposed by Ex-F1 Racer

Lewis Hamilton commands a certain level of respect and attention that not many other drivers can afford on the current grid. After all, he is a 7-time world champion equalling the legendary Michael Schumacher. However, there are some in the F1 community, including the former Haas team principal, Guenther Steiner who believe that Hamilton is a bit of a “diva”, a word the British driver used himself in 2021 to describe his title challenger, the W12, as it was difficult at times to control its unpredictable nature. And now, an F1 pundit has revealed that Lewis Hamilton likes to be pampered and praised by his team.

Last year in August, on the TG1F podcast with Kate and Nicole, Guenther Steiner was asked to name the biggest diva in the paddock. Being the direct and no-nonsense guy we know him to be, Steiner bluntly said, “Biggest diva – I think Lewis.” But he justified his answer by saying that Lewis has practically earned being a diva at this point with everything he has achieved.

Former F1 driver says Lewis Hamilton can be “too sensitive”

Steiner isn’t the first person to call Hamilton a Diva either. In 2020, during an episode of the NOS Formula podcast, former Dutch race car driver, Jan Lammers did the same while comparing the off-track personalities of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. While Schumacher was noted for spending time with old friends, Hamilton was labeled a “Diva”, highlighting that his network consists mainly of high-profile figures, contrasting with Schumacher’s more grounded approach.

Having decided to switch to Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton is now entering his final season with Mercedes, the team that gave him 6 out of his 7 championships. However, with the impending departure of the 38-year-old champion, George Russell needs to come into his own and take the leadership of the team if Mercedes has to go bold in 2025 as suggested by Toto Wolff. A former F1 driver has weighed in on Mercedes’ situation recently.

“George Russell will no longer be making room for Hamilton,” Christian Danner told the Kolner Express newspaper, according to sportsmole.co.uk, highlighting the importance of George taking charge. “I was told by Niki Lauda that Lewis likes to be pampered if I can put it that way. I know he also has to be praised by Toto Wolff. Even in the psychological duel with Nico Rosberg, he was too sensitive and lost the 2016 title because of it.”

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton Was to Be Mercedes’ “Brand Ambassador” Before Ferrari Snatched Him, Says Former Benz VP

Diva or not, there’s no denying that the partnership between Hamilton and Mercedes is one of the strongest driver-team pairings in the sport

Hamilton prepares for an emotional and surreal last season with Mercedes

The 7-time champion recently described his final season with Mercedes before transitioning to Ferrari in 2025 as a “surreal” moment. Speaking at Mercedes’ 2024 car launch at Silverstone, Hamilton emphasized the privilege he felt working with the team since 2013, particularly highlighting the dedication and effort of the team members over the years.

Even as he prepares to leave the team at the end of the 2024 season, his dedication to helping the team improve is still the same. “The whole of winter training is for us to getting the team back to where we once were. I think we’ve had this difficult couple of years, which I think has been really grounding for us. It’s helped us regroup.” he added.

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Do you think Mercedes has done a good enough job over the winter to take the fight to Red Bull in 2024? Share your insights down below in the comments.