Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff opened up about his relationship with his former driver Lewis Hamilton, who left the team after years of winning and success.
During his time at Mercedes, Hamilton won six Drivers’ Championships and established himself as one of the most successful Formula 1 drivers ever.
Wolff oversaw the team during all of Hamilton’s victories and built a unique relationship with the driver.
Hamilton decided to leave the German car manufacturer and join Scuderia Ferrari -fulfilling a lifelong dream to drive for the storied Italian team.
Despite losing Hamilton, Wolff revealed that he still talks to the British driver and maintains a relationship with him.
“When he decided to go, it could have been very awkward, borderline hostile, and we actively talked about how to not make it that,” Wolff told The Wall Street Journal.
“All of us made a real effort in trying to be very accommodating, very understanding.
“He’s maintained being a friend. He pops up in the office on the weekend! He speaks with the engineers, gets some food. After many Grand Prix, he travels back with me.
“So we have the old gang: Valtteri Bottas, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, and me flying from the races.”
Wolff and the Mercedes higher-ups were surprised by Hamilton’s decision to leave the team, though reports suggest that he left due to Mercedes’s unwillingness to offer a multiyear deal.
Hamilton wanted a commitment from the race team, but due to his age, Wolff and co. opted for a shorter-term deal.
Wolff needed to keep in mind that Andrea Kimi Antonelli was waiting in the wings and presented the race outfit to a potential world champion driver.
In the end, Mercedes signed Antonelli to replace Hamilton.
Ferrari and Mercedes are direct competitors and top teams, meaning they often clash on the track, but Wolff reassures that it does not affect the dynamics between the two parties.
“Listen, on the racetrack, we want to beat you. No doubt about that. But it’s been 12 years that we have been in this relationship. We trust each other,” Wolff added.
According to Wolff, Hamilton shares intimate details about his life, even asking for dating advice.
“I’m living a different life through his eyes – you know, he shows me his flirts and who he dates, and [asks], ‘Should I go for this girl or not?’ And I’m saying, ‘Yes, you should, and tell me how it was.'”
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