Lewis Hamilton F1 News: Toto Wolff GHOSTED over champion's Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari rumours — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Superstars

Wolff GHOSTED over Hamilton Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in 2025

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Friday 8 November 2024 22:57

Toto Wolff has revealed he was tipped off about Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari move before he was told by the seven-time champion, before an unsettling radio silence.

Hamilton is set to move to Maranello ahead of 2025, in an attempt to claim an unprecedented eighth world championship title.

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It will mean a partnership between one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history, and the most successful and iconic team on the F1 grid.

The stunning transfer displaced Carlos Sainz from Ferrari, who has since gone on to claim two race victories in 2024 and will join Williams on a long-term contract from 2025.

Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025

Carlos Sainz will be replaced by Lewis Hamilton in 2025

Wolff reveals shocking Hamilton transfer detail

Now, Mercedes team principal Wolff has revealed that Sainz's father had tipped him off before the 39-year-old officially told his boss about his move to Ferrari.

Hamilton's switch will bring to an end the most successful partnership in F1 history, a 12-season spell that yielded six drivers' championships for Hamilton, and eight constructors' championship titles.

Wolff has previously revealed that he was surprised by the timing of Hamilton's decision to move to Ferrari, but has now suggested that he had some time to get used to the idea of a Hamilton-less Mercedes.

"So I heard the bells ringing two weeks before," Wolff told the High Performance Podcast. "Yeah, the old man Sainz called me and said, this is what's happening.

"Then there were a few drivers' dads rang me up that didn't before. So I thought, OK…there's something going on there.

"And then I sent a text to [Ferrari boss] Fred Vasseur saying: 'You're taking our driver?' Didn't get any response. Very unusual for Fred. He's a good friend. So yeah, I saw it coming."

Red Bull Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Toto Wolff Carlos Sainz Maranello