"We both laughed a lot": How Toto Wolff and Mercedes are adjusting to Lewis Hamilton’s new chapter at Ferrari

Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has expressed his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s much-discussed move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season. While the change came as a surprise to Wolff, he emphasized that Mercedes remains focused on competing against its former star driver. The announcement of Hamilton's shift to Ferrari just ahead of the 2024 F1 season shocked many, including Wolff, but he’s gradually adjusted to the change.

Reflecting on the initial moments after the announcement, Toto Wolff admitted to OE24, “At first, it was a strange thought how he would look after so many days in the Mercedes.” Given Hamilton’s long-standing association with the Silver Arrows, seeing him in Ferrari’s red was an adjustment for Wolff. However, he quickly grew accustomed to the sight, adding, “But then he rode up in his red outfit and in the red car. In these fast-moving times, you quickly get used to it. Now it's a normal image for me.”

The first glimpse of Hamilton in Ferrari colors came in January, when he visited Maranello and posed in front of a Ferrari F40, dressed in a black suit. The image quickly became iconic, capturing Hamilton standing next to a legendary Ferrari car in front of Enzo Ferrari’s former home. Wolff, who shared the moment with Hamilton, couldn’t help but laugh about it. “There was something iconic about him standing there in his Godfather outfit in a suit,” Wolff remarked. He then joked, "I said to him: 'I've been trying to get you into a suit for 12 years, and then you do it on your first day at Ferrari.' We both laughed a lot."
Despite the personal bond between Hamilton and Wolff, the two remain fierce competitors on the track. Wolff emphasized, “We are very good friends. On a personal level, I wish him all the best, but on the racetrack we want to beat him.” It’s clear that while their friendship endures, Mercedes’ goal remains unchanged: to continue their pursuit of victory, even if that means competing against Hamilton in Ferrari colors.
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As Hamilton prepares to embark on this new chapter of his career, Mercedes will undoubtedly aim to defend its position as the leader in the sport, making for an exciting rivalry in the coming seasons.