Despite Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile switch to Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season, it appears Toto Wolff is still looking out for Lewis is a reality that refuses to go away.
The long-standing Mercedes team principal openly admitted he is still keeping tabs on the British driver even though their professional relationship has officially ended. The admission highlights how difficult it has been for Wolff to detach himself from Hamilton’s performances, especially during the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
Wolff admitted to monitoring Hamilton’s progress alongside his own drivers, George Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, during the season-opener.
“When I was looking at the screens at times, the way I looked at it was like we had three drivers,” said Wolff. “Because I was looking at R, U, S, I was looking at A, N, T, and I was looking at H, A, M, and you realise H, A, M is actually with Ferrari and is not with us anymore.”
Struggles of a New Beginning
Hamilton’s debut for Ferrari was anything but smooth. A series of errors including communication issues with his new race engineer Riccardo Adami and a risky tire call that backfired left the seven-time world champion settling for a disappointing 10th place finish.
However, despite now being a rival, Wolff admitted he still cares about Hamilton’s progress. “We very much care how he’s doing, but obviously on track he’s the competition, and we need to beat the competition,” Wolff continued.
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Hamilton’s struggles in Melbourne were compounded by Ferrari’s ongoing issues with car performance and strategic decision-making. While the Scuderia hoped the presence of the seasoned champion would elevate their standing, the pressure to adapt is clearly weighing heavy on the Briton’s shoulders.
A Difficult Separation for Wolff
The fact that Wolff is still instinctively following Hamilton’s progress speaks volumes about their years of collaboration. Under Wolff’s leadership, Hamilton secured six of his seven world championships with Mercedes, forming one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1 history. But now, Hamilton’s name appears on the Ferrari monitor, and Wolff is struggling to accept that reality.
While Mercedes showed potential during the Australian Grand Prix, with Russell securing a podium finish and Antonelli impressively taking fourth place after a penalty was overturned, the Mercedes boss remains highly aware of the threat posed by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. McLaren’s remarkable speed advantage throughout the race continues to be a source of concern for Wolff.
However, it seems Wolff looking out for Hamilton is not just a habit but a testament to their shared history. While the Mercedes boss is determined to move on and focus on his own team, there is a lingering sense of loyalty and concern that he simply cannot shake off.
