Toto Wolff reveals how he discovered that Lewis Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes in 2025. The Austrian learned from Carlos Sainz’s father that the British driver was in talks with Ferrari. When Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur did not respond to Wolff’s inquiries, the Austrian was pretty sure of it.
Toto Wolff had previously hinted that he saw Hamilton’s departure coming, even before the seven-time world champion came to him to break the news. The Austrian was disappointed with his driver’s ‘late’ announcement, as he may have missed an opportunity to sign Charles Leclerc or Lando Norris. Wolff now also reveals why he saw the news coming.
Carlos Sainz senior, whose son Carlos Sainz junior will have to make way for Hamilton at Ferrari, had informed Wolff of the developments weeks in advance. “So I heard the bells ringing two weeks in advance,” Wolff tells the High Performance podcast. “Yes, old man Sainz called me and said: this is what’s happening.”
Sainz senior’s news was then confirmed when other drivers’ fathers called Wolff to inquire about the vacant seat at Mercedes. “And then the fathers of a few drivers called me who hadn’t done so before. So I thought: Okay, something’s going on there.”
No response from Vasseur
Wolff then decided to directly ask Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur about the rumors. “Then I sent a text to Fred Vasseur saying: ‘You’re taking our driver?’ I got no response,” he continues. “Very unusual for Fred. He’s a good friend. So yes, I saw it coming.
