boss minimize by the noise on Friday on the Miami Grand Prix, clarifying the staff’s present relationship with .
“We’re nonetheless nice mates with Lewis,” Wolff mentioned. “I spent lots of time with him, travelling and nonetheless seeing him, and it got here to some extent, I suppose, final 12 months, the place it’s such as you’re spending 12 years in a row on vacation along with your good friend at a sure stage.”
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Hamilton introduced in 2024 that he would go away the staff after a 12-season stint at for a seat throughout the paddock at Ferrari.
However Wolff insists the transfer was amicable and each events have a constructive outlook now.
“You say, nicely, possibly do one thing else this time round,” the staff principal defined. “For Lewis, he wanted a refresher, reinvention.”
Whereas Hamilton, at 40 years outdated, traded in silver for pink in his recent begin, Mercedes additionally obtained a burst of fresh-faced vitality in Kimi Antonelli.
“All of the sudden, you additionally obtained the phrases that had been fascinating for him and with us: Kimi was within the beginning blocks,” Wolff mentioned.
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“That felt like the correct choice.”
The 18-year-old Italian driver has completed inside the factors at 4 of the 5 races to this point this season. He sits simply above Hamilton within the driver standings, splitting the 2 Ferraris with a seven-point lead on his former seat-holder.
Toto Wolff labored with Lewis Hamilton for 12 years (Getty Photographs)
Nevertheless, the absence of a 105-time grand prix winner hasn’t drastically modified the environment at Mercedes, Wolff mentioned, however the dynamic has shifted as takes on a management position.
“Now the dynamic is completely different,” Wolff mentioned. “George has massively stepped up as a senior driver within the staff. Kimi is nearly just like the younger brother that’s are available in. They work collectively nicely.
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“George, who’s been at all times — like everybody — a bit bit within the shadow of , is now the one that provides the route.”
Russell trails the highest three within the driver standings however has stood on the rostrum in each race however one.
