“There are no bad feelings, and there is no betrayal” : Toto Wolff on Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari
The current F1 season has been one of the most topsy-turvy yet entertaining year for fans and media, with several different grand prix winners, close finishes and controversies. But the biggest bomb of the season was already dropped in February when Sir Lewis Hamilton decided to race for Scuderia Ferrari.
After 12 long years of racing for the Silver Arrows whist winning six F1 world titles along the way, the Briton, who signed a new contract just the previous year with them, finally decided to part ways and join the Italian team as he did not accept the 1+1 deal given by the AMG Petronas.
The ‘greatest F1 driver of all time’ secured world championships with the German team in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, while narrowly missing out on his eighth in 2021 regards to the current best driver in the world in Red Bulls’ Max Verstappen.
The Briton will now have a new partner-in-crime in Charles Leclerc, as the 39-year-old will surely provide key contributions not just individually but to the whole team due to his experience and successes over the years. Although many fans of the Silver Arrows were heartbroken due to Hamilton’s departure, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently revealed that there were no bad feelings and that he respects the Briton’s decision.
“Maybe he needed to, in a way, change and reinvent himself” : Toto Wolff respects Lewis Hamilton’s decision of joining Ferrari
While previously there were rumors around social media that contract negotiations between the Briton and the German team went the wrong way, the Australian billionaire reinstated that Lewis Hamilton simply chose the better offer for himself, and that there were no bad feelings from both parties when the 1+1 contract was offered.
“We decided as a team that and we were always very transparent with Lewis the good thing with him is he is able to put himself in your position and understood where we were coming from. So, in that respect, there are no bad feelings, and there is no betrayal. It was also for the good of him to change,” said the 52-year-old (via BBC).
“This was the longest run between a driver and a team. It was 12 years overall. And maybe he needed to, in a way, change and reinvent himself. Being a driver for Ferrari is super-prestigious. Maybe for us as a team also it is important to emancipate ourselves and go in a different direction.” the former motorsport driver added.
With Lewis Hamilton almost gone, the Silver Arrows have the opportunity and time to find a suitable replacement. While Toto Wolff’s dream signing would that of the Dutchman, the Briton earlier revealed that he backs Andrea Kimi Antonelli as his replacement for the next season.
A new era for both the German and Italian team is about to start next season, and fans all over the world will be seated for what is turning out to be one of the most exciting and competitive F1 seasons ever
