Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has declared his claim “everyone has a shelf life” in relation to Lewis Hamilton‘s impending Formula 1 departure was taken “out of context”.
The curtain is about to come down on the series’ most prosperous driver and team partnership ever as Hamilton will embark on a new venture with Ferrari from 2025.
Hamilton’s choice to cut short his extensive association with Mercedes was made viable due to an exit clause that was included in the deal he signed last September.
But although Mercedes will lose a seven-time F1 champion’s services as it aims to return to the top, Wolff expressed that he could view a positive to Hamilton’s move.
Speaking in the new all-access book on the team, Wolff said Hamilton’s decision “avoids the moment” arriving where he would have to tell his driver “we want to stop”.
“There’s a reason why we only signed a one-plus-one-year contract,” he continued.
“We’re in a sport where cognitive sharpness is extremely important, and I believe everyone has a shelf life.”
Wolff clarifies Hamilton comment
Wolff’s comment came as Mercedes has picked prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 18, to replace Hamilton, who will have turned 40 prior to conducting his Ferrari debut.
However, the Austrian has denied he was insinuating Hamilton is best his best, citing disappointment that Mercedes hasn’t given him a car to thrive in his last season.
“What I was referring to was that all of us age, whether it is in a car, on a pitch, or as a manager or entrepreneur,” Wolff told the BBC.
“And that is what I am trying to do with myself; understand, ‘Am I going from great to good?’ Because good is not in Formula 1 anymore.
“Now contrary to my own self-assessment, I think we see with Lewis that he’s very much there when the car is right.
“And we haven’t been able to give him that car to perform his best, and that is a frustration that we share equally in the team, and for himself.
“But he’s very sharp. He’s different to when he was a 20-year-old, that’s certainly clear. But his experience and his race craft is tremendous.”
Wolff appreciates Hamilton timing
Wolff was also appreciative of Hamilton electing to tell him the news as soon as possible to give Mercedes sufficient time to create a succession plan in his absence.
“We met in my house in Oxford and he basically said ‘this is a step I feel is good for all of us, it’s good for me to reinvent myself’,” he explained
“Every driver wants to be in Ferrari and it’s good for the Mercedes team, too, because we’ve been with each other for 12 years, so maybe we’re kind of reinvigorating ourselves. And that’s when he told me.
“Initially, obviously, it was a bit of a surprise, because it was at the beginning of the season, which was highly unusual. But also I think where he came from was a sense of fairness to say listen, I’m going to tell you very early, it may be awkward during the season, but so you can position the team and yourself for the years to come.”
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