Toto Wolff, team principal at Mercedes, remains confident that Lewis Hamilton possesses the `magic` required to compete at the highest level, despite facing challenges since joining Ferrari.
Through the initial six races, Hamilton has generally trailed his teammate Charles Leclerc in performance. However, he showed improved form in Miami, securing third place in the Sprint event and finishing closely behind Leclerc in the main Grand Prix, where he placed eighth.
In the three races preceding Miami, Hamilton struggled to match Leclerc`s pace during competitive sessions, leading the seven-time world champion to describe the upcoming 2025 season as potentially `painful` after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April.
Recalling Hamilton`s strong performance, Wolff, who managed the driver for 12 years at Mercedes, stated, “I think we witnessed that magic during the Sprint Race in Shanghai. He absolutely dominated that event.”
“It`s not as if you possess this capability in one race and then instantly lose it in the next,” Wolff added. “I firmly believe that `magic` is still within him.”
He emphasized his certainty: “When he can align all the factors contributing to his performance, feels comfortable, and the car suits his style, he will perform exceptionally well. I have absolutely no doubt.”
Despite his current challenges, Hamilton remains just 12 points behind Leclerc in the standings heading into the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend at Imola.
Wolff noted that Hamilton`s performance gap to Leclerc isn`t attributable to a single specific weakness, and he believes his former driver will indeed regain his top form.
Wolff elaborated, “I`m also not surprised he`s encountering these difficulties. He was with us for 12 years, accustomed to our way of working. Now he`s at Ferrari, where his teammate has been established for quite some time.”
He concluded, “And his teammate is clearly a highly capable driver. So, from my perspective and based on discussions with him, this is a typical adjustment period any new driver faces when joining a leading team.”
Wolff Maintains Close Friendship with Hamilton
Earlier in the year, during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Wolff commented that watching Hamilton`s performance alongside his two Mercedes drivers felt like managing three individuals.
Wolff confirmed that he continues to communicate with Hamilton outside of the race weekend environment.
He stated, “Lewis and I remain good friends. I spent a significant amount of time with him, including traveling, and we still see each other.”
Comparing their long working relationship, Wolff remarked, “Last year, it felt like spending 12 consecutive years on vacation with your best friend. Eventually, you might think it`s time for a different experience.”
He suggested, “For Lewis, it seemed he needed a change, a fresh start. Ferrari is undeniably an iconic team. Additionally, the terms offered were certainly appealing to him.”
Russell Comments on Hamilton`s Challenges
Hamilton`s current difficulty in achieving consistent strong results follows a trend from his final year at Mercedes, where he finished behind teammate George Russell in the standings and was outqualified by a margin of 19-5.
Russell believes that many “underestimate the difficulty of Formula 1” and the challenge of adapting to a new team environment.
Russell commented, “He is a champion, a winner, and he`s currently in a situation where he cannot achieve that.”
“That situation is not easy to accept,” Russell added. “If he were smiling broadly, you`d probably wonder why.”
“I have great respect for Lewis and like him as a person,” Russell said. “It`s difficult to see someone not enjoying their work.”
He concluded, “But why should he be enjoying it? For him, it`s not about the finances; it`s about the outcomes. Things aren`t clicking for him right now, but I`m confident they will eventually.”
