Lewis Hamilton: The director of the Mercedes Toto Wolff team has “undoubtedly” the magic is always with Ferrari Driver | F1 News
Mercedes’ team director Toto Wolff has “undoubtedly” that Lewis Hamilton is still “magic” to play at a high level after a difficult start to Life at Ferrari.
Hamilton was widely surpassed by Charles Leclerc after six laps, but was more competitive last weekend in Miami, finishing third in the sprint and on the tail of his teammate Ferrari in the main race, although in eighth.
The three racing weekends before that saw Hamilton lost to get answers because he could not beat Leclerc in competition sessions, and the seven times champion said after the April Saudi Grand Prix that he would be a “painful” in 2025.
“I think we saw this magic in the sprint race in Shanghai. He completely dominated this race,” said Wolff, who spent 12 seasons as a Hamilton boss at Mercedes.
“It is not like you had magic in a race and suddenly you lose the magic in the next one. I really think it is still there.
“If he aligns all his performance contributors and feels that he is in the right space and that the car is to his taste, he will be stellar. I have no doubt.”
Despite his difficulties, Hamilton was only 12 points of Leclerc before the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagne this weekend in Imola.
Hamilton’s rhythm deficit in Leclerc has not been in a particular field, and Wolff thinks that its old driver is rediscovering his best form.
“I am not surprised either that he had these road bumps. He was with us 12 years – the way of operation. He was put in a Ferrari, where his teammate was for a long time,” continued Wolff.
“And his teammate is clearly one of the very good. So from the outside and to speak to him, it is a trajectory that any new driver must cross in a high -level team.”
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Lewis Hamilton sends Jabs to Ferrari on team radio during the Miami Grand Prix
Wolff always “big friends” with Hamilton
Earlier this year, Wolff said he had the impression that he had three pilots looking at Hamilton’s progress during the Australian opening of the season, as well as his two Mercedes pilots.
The German confirmed that he is still talking to Hamilton far from the paddock.
“We are always great friends with Lewis. I spent a lot of time with him, traveling and I still see him,” he said.
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Sports superstars, including Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Simone Biles, attend the Met Gala 2025 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
“It came to a point last year where, you know, it’s like spending 12 years on vacation with your best friend. At a certain stadium, you say, well, maybe doing something else this time.
“And for Lewis, he needed a refreshment, a reinvention. Ferrari is emblematic, undoubtedly on this subject. He certainly also obtained terms that were interesting for him.”
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New images of a healthy exchange between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after the team’s prescriptions at the dispute at Miami Grand Prix
Russell: Not pleasant to see Hamilton’s difficulties
The lack of coherent and solid results of Hamilton is a continuation of his last year in Mercedes where he finished behind his teammate George Russell in the championship and was exceeded 19-5.
Russell thinks that people have “underestimated the difficulty of Formula 1” and how difficult it is to adapt to a new team.
“He is a champion, he is a winner and he is in a position where he cannot get there,” said Russell.
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“And it is not easy to accept. If he radiated with a big smile, you would wonder why he radiated with a big smile.
“I have a lot of respect for him and I love him personally. It is not nice to see someone who does not appreciate it.
“But why should he take advantage of it? Because for him, this is not the money, it is the results. And he is not clinging for him right now, but I’m sure that will click at some point.”
Sky Sports F1 Emilia Romagna GP Time
Thursday May 15
2 p.m.: Pilot press conference
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Look back on some of the most dramatic moments that took place at the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagne
Friday May 16
8:50 am: F3 Practical
10 am: F2 Practical
12 noon: Emilia Romagne GP practice a (The session starts at 12:30 p.m.)
2 p.m.: F3 Qualify
2:55 p.m.: Qualification F2
3:40 p.m.: Emilia Romagne GP practices two (the session starts at 4 p.m.)
5:15 p.m.: The F1 show
Saturday, May 17
9 am: F3 Sprint
11:15 am: Emilia Romagne GP practices three (The session starts at 11:30 am)
1:10 p.m.: F2 Sprint
2:10 p.m.: Emilia Romagne GP Builying Builying
3 p.m.: Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying *
5 p.m.: Ted’s qualification book
Sunday May 18
7:25 am: F3 functionalities race
8:55 am: F2 functionality breed
12:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagne GP Build-Up
2 p.m.: The Grand Prix of Emilia Romagne
4 p.m.: Damy flag: reaction of Emilia Romagne GP
5 p.m.: Ted’s notebook
* Live on the main event of Sky Sports
The European F1 season begins with the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagne this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time
