Toto Wolff says he knew the risks of granting Lewis Hamilton an exit clause in his Mercedes contract, but the Austrian feels that the Briton’s decision to move to Ferrari so late in his career is “maybe rolling the ice a bit”.
The dust has settled, but the shockwaves from Hamilton's departure to Ferrari linger for Mercedes. While the team grapples with the loss of their star driver, Wolff acknowledge the calculated risk they took by including an exit clause in his latest contract.
Remember the two-year extension signed in August 2023? It wasn't just about securing Hamilton's talent. It is believed that the compromise arrangement of sorts granted flexibility to both parties.
If Mercedes' performance faltered, they could explore other options. Conversely, they knew they risked losing Hamilton if he felt his championship dreams were elsewhere.
Fast forward to 2024. Ferrari came knocking, offering Hamilton a chance to fulfill his childhood dream and potentially rewrite history with the iconic Scuderia.
The lure was strong, and Hamilton exercised his exit clause, informing Wolff in a personal meeting that took place last Wednesday at the latter’s home in Oxford.
The Austrian could only speculate about the reasons that sparked Hamilton’s sudden change of heart.
“We were very aligned when we went into the Christmas period,” Wolff told the media on Friday. “We've said that in public and in the team. You need to ask Lewis why he changed his mind.
“How he framed it to me is perfectly understandable – that he needed a new challenge, that he was looking for a different environment, and that it was maybe the last possibility to do something else.
“We're big boys, we knew that by signing a short-term contract, it could be of benefit for both sides.
“We couldn't commit for a longer period, and he's taken the option to exit. We totally respect that you can change your mind. There's different circumstances.
“Switching to Ferrari, maybe for the last gig in his career, maybe rolling the dice a bit. I can follow that decision.”
In Ferrari’s short statement released on Thursday, the Scuderia said that Hamilton would be joining the team in 2025, on a “multi-year contract”.
Given that Mercedes was unwilling to grant Hamilton such a provision, Wolff suggests the latter weighed heavily on the Briton’s decision.
“I think maybe one of the considerations was the opportunity to sign a long-term contract with Ferrari and give it a really big go at the end of his career,” he continued.
“We didn't talk about whether the opportunity was better there or with us, because I don't think you can say.
“At the end of the day, he is the most successful driver. We've had a sensational spell and journey together and that's something that will go down in the history books, and also in the Mercedes history books.”
©Mercedes
While rumors of Hamilton being courted by Ferrari had been simmering for months, perhaps even for years, Wolff admits the final decision wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, the allure of the Scuderia for a driver like Hamilton held undeniable appeal.
However, the Mercedes boss confessed that the timing of Hamilton’s decision came completely out of left field.
“The surprise was that I'd heard the rumours a couple of days earlier but wanted to wait for the breakfast we had planned,” he said. “And it was Wednesday morning, this is when he broke the news.
“You know with me, you can be very straightforward, because I'm straightforward too. So, once he said this is what I'm trying to do, that was the fact. I didn't try to convince him otherwise.
“But just look forward: okay, what are we doing about communications? What's the timing? How do we protect the team best? And how do we protect this 2024 year to be successful together with our two drivers without causing too much awkwardness?”
©Mercedes
Predictably, Wolff was asked if he felt disappointed or hurt by his driver’s decision.
“No, it doesn't hurt because I need to keep the calm and decide how we're going to best manage the 2024 season and what the decisions need to be going forward,” he replied.
“It's not like someone that I like a lot is disappearing. He's just changing team, and we've been very conscious in signing the contract that it could happen.
“Maybe the timing was a surprise, but I've had many black swans swimming in front of me, the unexpected. And I think in F1, it's all about agility and being able to embrace change of circumstances."
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
