Toto Wolff's private message to Lewis Hamilton after seeing first Ferrari photos
This month saw the first photos of Lewis Hamilton wearing Ferrari colours, almost a year on from the Brit telling former boss Toto Wolff that he was quitting Mercedes
by Daniel Moxon · The MirrorToto Wolff compared seeing photos of Lewis Hamilton wearing Ferrari colours to seeing an ex with a new partner for the first time.
Hamilton told Wolff last January that his 12th season with Mercedes was going to be his last. And on February 1 it was confirmed to the world that the seven-time champion was going to join Ferrari in pursuit of his eighth Formula 1 crown.
The Silver Arrows gave their legendary driver an emotional farewell after the 2024 season was over. Hamilton travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Stuttgart and Brackley to say his goodbyes to staff at key partners Petronas, Mercedes-Benz headquarters and the race team.
And, after a bit of time off, he began work with Ferrari last week. The first and most memorable image of his maiden visit to their Maranello base saw him in a smart suit, posing for photos next to a Ferrari F40 which was parked in front of founder Enzo Ferrari's iconic office building, with its bright red window shutters.
Not everyone was delighted to see those images, though. Asked about them by Sky Sports at the Autosport Awards, Mercedes team principal Wolff smiled as he made a light-hearted comparison.
He joked: "It's a little bit like you divorce amicably and it's all good, and then you see your partner for the first time with a new friend. But I'm really happy for him and I told him that those pictures were iconic, that he made. They were so well curated and that's no surprise with Lewis."
Mercedes cannot dwell on the past, though, and have been working hard on their 2025 car which they hope will be less temperamental and more regularly competitive than their previous efforts. But, as Wolff said, they will not know how quick their newest challenger is until the action gets under way in March.
The Austrian said: "We were scratching our heads a lot last year, particularly at the beginning. Like all the other teams, we had our ups and downs - very dominant performances in Vegas and then other races that were not so good. But, at the end of the day, when the flags drops we're going to see in qualifying in Melbourne where we stand."
Hamilton's place has been filled by 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, for whom Mercedes have very high hopes. Wolff has made a point of downplaying expectations on his talented teenager, given the huge level of hype that was already around him which has only intensified since he was designated Hamilton's heir.
Asked about his team's expectations for the Italian youngster this year, Wolff replied: "He's been in the team, integrated, for such a long time. We've known him since he was 11 and in that respect he's been prepared. He's ready to go and can't wait."
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Watch F1 live
Watch Formula One on Sky Sports
£22 a month
Catch all the action from Formula One on Sky Sports and get exclusive access to races, qualifying and much more for every Grand Prix. From Max Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, you won't miss a lap on Sky Sports.