Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff has revealed that he suspected that Lewis Hamilton would possibly depart from the Brackley-based outfit after Ferrari crew boss Fred Vasseur didn’t reply to his message
Lewis Hamilton introduced his shock departure from Mercedes on the first of February. The announcement caught the Formulation One group unexpectedly because the seven-time world champion was as a consequence of race for the Brackley-based outfit till the top of 2025.
Nonetheless, the Briton elected to terminate his contract on the finish of the present season and search for a brand new problem at Ferrari subsequent yr. Hamilton is statistically probably the most profitable driver within the historical past of Formulation One, however he’s tied with the nice German seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher on the variety of world championship titles.
Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff initially indicated that he was first knowledgeable about Hamilton’s plans by the seven-time world champion himself after they sat down for his or her ordinary pre-season assembly.
Nonetheless, talking to the Excessive Efficiency podcast, Wolff mentioned that an preliminary name from Carlos Sainz Sr., father of the Ferrari driver Carlos had been the place he first received the primary indication that one thing was within the offing.
“So I heard the bells ringing two weeks earlier than. Yeah, the outdated man Sainz known as me and mentioned, that is what’s taking place. After which there have been a number of drivers’ dads rang me up that did not earlier than. So I believed, Okay…there’s one thing happening there.”
Wolff has revealed that he contacted his good friend, Ferrari crew boss Fred Vasseur after his dialog with Carlos Sainz, however he didn’t obtain any response from the Frenchman.
“After which I despatched a textual content to [Ferrari boss] Fred Vasseur saying: ‘You are taking our driver?’ Did not get any response. Very uncommon for Fred. He is a great good friend. So yeah, I noticed it coming.”
Hamilton and Wolff historically caught up after the winter break to mirror on their vacation and discuss concerning the forthcoming season. Though it has been a practice, it was very completely different this time round because the Briton revealed that he would depart from the crew he has secured six world titles with.
“When Lewis arrived in the home, like he did so a few years earlier than, we had a little bit of a small discuss, like we all the time do concerning the Christmas holidays and all of that.
“Then I mentioned, “Effectively, we’re recruiting from Ferrari now. We received this man.” And Lewis was, “Oh, there’s one thing I have to let you know.” And yeah, when he mentioned that, that preliminary second was slightly little bit of… so that is actually taking place?”
Regardless of the success that Mercedes has had with the seven-time world champion, Wolff reckons that he may shortly settle for Hamilton’s determination.
“Effectively, I had a lot worse in my life, taking place, like actual drama and trauma. This isn’t even shifting the needle. It is only a new state of affairs.
“It has dangers and alternatives, dangers within the sense of how do I inform the sponsors as shortly as doable? As a result of it was leaking… And on the opposite aspect, what are we doing about subsequent yr?”
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