Toto Wolff Shares Relief Over Avoiding "Dreaded" Lewis Hamilton Contract Talks

Why it matters:Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, admitted relief that Lewis Hamilton's decision to join Ferrari in 2025 bypassed potentially "very difficult" conversations about his long-term future at Mercedes.### The big picture:Hamilton announced his departure for Ferrari, making the 2024 season his last with Mercedes after two challenging years (2022-2023) where the team struggled to maintain its top position.### The details: * Wolff told select media, including RacingNews365, that the scenario of negotiating Hamilton's future was "something that we would have dreaded," both personally and for Mercedes as an organization. * Hamilton's age was a factor Mercedes would have had to consider when discussing a long-term commitment. * His choice to move to Ferrari eliminated the need for these complex and potentially awkward discussions.### What's next:Despite Hamilton's current struggles at Ferrari, where he's still awaiting his first podium and has expressed a lack of confidence in the car, Wolff stated, "No one should ever feel sorry for Lewis Hamilton. He's a monster of a driver." Hamilton remains hopeful that the 2026 regulation changes will position him strongly for championship contention.