[ad_1]
All through the 2024 season, a number of studies have claimed {that a} rift is creating between Mercedes staff principal Toto Wolff and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Though a number of consultants have debunked these rumors previously, they don’t appear to die down.
Now, former Haas staff principal Guenther Steiner is the most recent to clarify why Wolff and Hamilton nonetheless proceed to have a powerful relationship regardless of the latter deciding to hitch Ferrari in 2025. When requested about the identical on The Purple Flags Podcast, Steiner stated,
“I don’t suppose Toto was leaping in pleasure when Lewis informed him that he was not going to remain on there as a result of there was a transparent plan in place for them“.
Steiner then additional defined, “They respect one another very nicely. I interviewed Toto after the race for Canal Plus. He was completely happy as sh*t” [to see Hamilton win his 104th race in Britain].
The Italian-American then added that he doesn’t consider that Wolff would care about who wins between Hamilton and George Russell so long as Mercedes wins. When pressed additional concerning the narrative that Mercedes would in all probability need to favor Russell since Hamilton is leaving them, Steiner defined why this doesn’t make sense to him.
The 59-year-old acknowledged that Hamilton is a driver who has helped Mercedes win eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships throughout the turbo-hybrid period. Due to this fact, his leaving would undoubtedly damage Mercedes’ plans for the longer term, however not at all, Wolff would sideline somebody who has been so loyal and profitable for them previously.
Wolff wished Hamilton to persevere with Mercedes
Throughout the identical podcast, one of many hosts identified the radio message that Wolff gave to Hamilton after the 39-year-old received the British Grand Prix final weekend. Wolff reminded Hamilton over the radio about how he had requested the Briton to persevere regardless of the staff’s struggles final 12 months.
With this in thoughts, one of many hosts requested Steiner if Wolff was suggesting by way of his radio message that Hamilton made the mistaken name to hitch Ferrari. In reply, the Italian-American stated, “It may very well be”.
Many consultants certainly believed that one of many foremost causes Hamilton determined to depart Mercedes and signal for Ferrari in 2025 is as a result of he maybe believed that the Prancing Horse had a greater probability of giving him a automotive that would doubtlessly assist him win a document eighth title.
Wolff himself admitted that he had no issues if Hamilton left however didn’t count on the 39-year-old to make up his thoughts this quickly. Hamilton certainly did shock F1 followers world wide when he introduced even earlier than the 2024 season started that he had determined to depart Mercedes on the finish of this season.
[ad_2]
Source link
