Ecclestone: “Wolff let Hamilton lead a bit in Mercedes” | FP

The relationship between Hamilton and Wolff

As this season's races come to an end, the long parenthesis of Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes it will increasingly come to an end. As known from this pre-season, the Englishman will land in Ferrari in 2025 after twelve seasons spent with the Brackley house and six world titles won out of the seven won in his career. Meanwhile, Sir Lewis will conclude the last remaining GPs in a particular climate within the team and with the team principal Toto Wolffwith which there would no longer be one mutual trust. This not only following the sudden announcement of the choice of the seven-time world champion communicated to the Austrian manager shortly before the presentation of the single-seater, but even before this episode.

The opinion of 'Big Bernie'

The former Formula 1 boss is convinced of this, Bernie Ecclestonewho believes how this relationship would then have led to the early marriage between Hamilton and Ferrari: “I don't think there has ever been a relationship where both parties could be trusted – declared a Racing News 365 – Toto trusted him a lot more and they both got closer for selfish reasons, but I don't think there was ever a relationship where both parties could be trusted. Obviously he wasn't there, and that's why Lewis decided to leave suddenly.”

Strange choice

Returning to Hamilton's choice to sign with Ferrari for 2025, Ecclestone himself was shocked by the #44's decision. Furthermore, 'Big Bernie' also admitted that, as the owner of a team like he actually was at Brabham, he would never have allowed some things to the Englishman in his team: “It was a strange move to make – he continued – I didn't understand why he did it, given essentially the one year notice. Why didn't he wait until later in the season? Vasseur knew him from the early days, and I think it was a matter of ego for John Elkann that he managed to get one of the main Formula 1 drivers. The best, in the opinion of many. These things happen. Just a whole series of circumstances coming together. In a sense – he concluded – Lewis leads the Mercedes a bit. Toto let him do it to keep him and make him happy, but I've never done something like that with my drivers. They are still good and true friends, not for finance or anything. Just good friends. I'd rather have that kind of relationship than jump when someone says jump, or defend a situation. If I wanted to do something, I would do it thinking it was the right thing to do.”