Toto Wolff Backs Lewis Hamilton Despite Challenging…. read more
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ Team Principal, has spoken out in support of Lewis Hamilton amid the British driver’s rocky start with Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite Hamilton’s struggles since his high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, Wolff maintains that the seven-time world champion still possesses the brilliance that made him one of the greatest drivers in the sport.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari over the winter marked the end of a 12-year partnership with Mercedes. However, the transition has not been smooth, with Hamilton finding it difficult to match the pace of his new teammate, Charles Leclerc. Although Hamilton currently trails Leclerc by only 12 points in the championship standings, the general consensus is that the Monegasque driver has outperformed him in most races so far.
Nonetheless, Wolff remains confident in Hamilton’s abilities and believes that his former driver can still deliver top-level performances. Pointing to Hamilton’s dominance in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, Wolff said the display showed that the “magic” is still very much alive. “He was completely dominating that race,” Wolff told RacingNews365 and other media. “You don’t just have magic one weekend and lose it the next. I very much believe it’s still there.”
Wolff elaborated that when Hamilton finds the right rhythm and the car suits his driving style, he will shine. “If he aligns all his performance contributors and feels he is in the right space and the car is to his liking, he will be stellar. I have no doubt,” he added.
While Hamilton has also shown promise with a third-place finish in the Miami sprint race, these flashes of form have been rare in what has otherwise been a tough start to his Ferrari career. Wolff, however, is not surprised by the early challenges. He explained that switching teams after such a long stint with one organization involves a significant adjustment.
Wolff emphasized that Hamilton has had to adapt not only to a new car but also to a completely different working environment and team culture. “He was with us for 12 years – the way of operating was second nature,” Wolff explained. “Now he’s in a Ferrari where his teammate has been for a long time and knows the system well.”
He also acknowledged Leclerc’s talent, calling him “one of the very good ones,” and suggested that Hamilton’s current struggles are part of a natural adaptation period. “It’s a trajectory any new driver needs to go through in a top team,” Wolff concluded.
Despite a tough start, Wolff is confident that Hamilton will soon settle in and remind the F1 world of his brilliance.
