F1 News: Toto Wolff Discusses Lewis Hamilton's Shift to Ferrari: A New Journey

Toto Wolff has addressed Lewis Hamilton's upcoming move from Mercedes to Ferrari, set for the 2025 season in a report by Formula1.com .

He emphasized that there are no hard feelings regarding Hamilton's decision, which he views as a natural conclusion to their long partnership.

Wolff acknowledged Hamilton's desire for a new challenge and noted that they had previously agreed on a short-term contract, leaving options open for both parties.

While the timing of Hamilton's departure may have caught some off guard, Wolff understands the British driver's need to reinvent himself before the end of his career.

Ferrari has offered Hamilton a multi-year contract that extends beyond what Mercedes was willing to provide. Wolff respects Hamilton's choice and maintains that their personal relationship remains strong despite the professional split.

In his BBC Sport interview , Wolff said:

“No,” he replied. “We decided as a team for that and we were always very transparent with Lewis, and 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, there is no betrayal. It was also for the good of him to change. 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," Wolff added.

Looking ahead, Mercedes plans to replace Hamilton with Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian driver currently competing in Formula 2.

“We are not sitting with him in the car. He needs to do it. He has the talent, the intelligence, the ability, all of it to do it well. And we need to provide an environment where he can learn and develop," Wolff said.

“You’ve got to give young drivers time. George is a formidable driver, one of the best. You can’t expect an 18-year-old to sit in the car and outperform him. That’s not going to happen. Impossible.”

He emphasized the importance of allowing young talent time to develop in the competitive environment of Formula 1.