Mercedes have denied they will favour George Russell this season after Lewis Hamilton’s shock decision to switch to Ferrari next year. But team principal Toto Wolff admitted they were going to have to “evaluate” how much sensitive information they were prepared to share with Hamilton.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Wolff said that, while he had “no doubts about the integrity” of his friend, and he bore the seven-time world champion no ill will, the team would have to protect themselves. “It’s something we need to look at,” Wolff admitted. “When it comes to 2025 we will evaluate later in the season what it means in terms of [sharing] technical information.
“But that’s not something that bothers me at all. I don’t have any doubt in Lewis’ integrity. We just want to make sure that this is a successful season for both drivers and a successful season for Mercedes.”
Hamilton only broke the news to Wolff on Wednesday morning that he intended to exercise a break clause in his contract at the end of 2024. That was just 24hrs before the news leaked in Italy, sparking pandemonium.
Wolff insisted there were no hard feelings, saying he knew Hamilton’s departure was a risk when Mercedes only offered the 39 year-old a two-year deal with a break clause last summer. Ferrari have signed Hamilton to a “multi-year” deal from 2025, ensuring he has a drive in the 2026 season, the first of new regulations.
“We got together for coffee at my place in Oxford,” Wolff said of the moment Hamilton told him. “Basically he was returning to the factory [after his winter break]. And he said to me that he has decided to race for Ferrari in 2025. And that was basically it. We had a good hour of conversation and this is where we are. We are big boys. We knew that by signing a short-term contract it could be of benefit for both parties. We couldn’t commit for a longer period. And he has taken the option to exit.
“Now, having slept a few nights on it, it means that our professional journey comes to an end. But it doesn’t mean that our personal relationship ends. We’ve built a relationship over the last 10 years. He faced a very, very difficult decision, maybe for the first time for 10 years without being able to brainstorm with me.
“In the future we will discuss whether this could have been done differently or not. But I hold no grudge.”
