Wolff: 'If Hamilton had gone to Red Bull, his motive was clear'

It came as a big shock to the entire Formula 1 world: Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes after the 2024 F1 season to take up a new challenge at Ferrari. Team boss Toto Wolff understands why Hamilton was concerned about Mercedes' performance but stresses that the difference between the Italian and German racing teams is currently very small.

Hamilton is currently 39 years old, which means he will join Ferrari at 40. For that reason, Wolff can imagine that time is running out for his star driver, who said he wants to fulfil a childhood dream with his move to Ferrari. Wolff is not so sure if he can get better results at Ferrari.

Speaking to Motorsport-Total.com, the Mercedes team boss stated that the difference between Mercedes and Ferrari in 2023 was extremely small. Moreover, the German team finished ahead of the Scuderia in the constructors' championship with a three-point lead.

Wolff: 'If he had gone to Red Bull, the reason was obvious'

"If he had gone to Red Bull Racing, the drive behind it would have been clear. That is the best package in the short term," Wolff said. At the same time, he says he understands Hamilton's concerns about his team's performance.

Mercedes failed to win a single F1 race in 2023, and that does not tell the whole story, according to Wolff. "What was perhaps not so visible to him was the energy that is in the team, the drive to do things better," he adds. It is a matter of trial and error: "I have no idea how many more times we will fall, but I know we always get back up."

"If we look back in 10 or 20 years, we will have many more world championships," continues the 52-year-old Austrian. "But of course, that's a long-term perspective, and that no longer matters for Lewis."