Toto Wolff relieved after Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes: does Verstappen factor into his words?. Toto Wolff expressed relief at Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave Mercedes.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that, ultimately, he welcomed Lewis Hamilton’s departure from the German team with relief. The British driver’s decision to join Ferrari‘s project for the coming years has allowed the Brackley-based team to fully focus on young Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The incredible announcement of the partnership between Hamilton and the Italian team dates back 12 months. Despite the disappointment of losing such an important figure for Mercedes, Toto Wolff now admits how crucial Lewis Hamilton’s decision was for the German team’s future.

The seven-time world champion’s exit has allowed Mercedes to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2025. This move secured the team’s retention of a young talent who otherwise might have joined another F1 team, as was the case with Max Verstappen in 2014.

The “Verstappen” Precedent
“It was a tough blow for us, and it still feels strange that Lewis will wear Ferrari’s suit and drive the red car,” the Austrian said on the *Armchair Experts* podcast. “It’s a bit surreal. But we had this 17-year-old [Antonelli] in the pipeline. I didn’t want to lose him like I did with Max at the time when I didn’t have a car to offer him, so everything is going in the right direction.”

“And in a way, I understand where his decision comes from, because we weren’t succeeding. Our car wasn’t fast enough, and surely he had a mega offer on the table. Besides, every Formula 1 driver dreams of driving a Ferrari.”

Toto Wolff also revealed his suspicion that Lewis Hamilton may have sensed Kimi Antonelli’s presence in the background, ready to take his place, which could have influenced his decision. When asked if he felt relieved that Hamilton made the choice to leave on his own, the Austrian replied:

“Absolutely, I couldn’t make that decision from a personal standpoint; we owe him so much. And neither I nor Mercedes wanted to make the call to let go of the greatest champion ever. Perhaps he felt it, too, and knew that Antonelli was in the pipeline. It was something I had almost envisioned—that it would happen.”