Toto Wolff says F1 rival’s father tipped him off about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari

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Mercedes have had plenty of time to digest Lewis Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari. It was made official in February before a wheel had been turned in the 2024 season.

At the time, it came as a shock – certainly to the world of F1 as a whole. Toto Wolff says he wasn’t surprised by Hamilton leaving, aware that the second year of his new Mercedes contract was optional anyway.

However, he did ask Hamilton why he’d chosen to depart before the season had commenced. He expected the 39-year-old to make his decision after seeing how Mercedes and their rivals performed.

Based on the current pecking order, his gamble could pay off. Ferrari are battling McLaren for the constructors’ title – they’re 36 points behind heading into the last three races – while Mercedes are a rather lonely fourth.

They’re more than 200 points off top spot, while also being just under 300 clear of Aston Martin behind. There will be minimal changes to the cars over the winter ahead of the major 2026 overhaul, but Mercedes will still hope for a breakthrough.

Wolff has taken what could be an era-defining gamble by hiring teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli as Hamilton’s replacement. The seven-time world champion will race in Mercedes colours for the final time in Abu Dhabi next month before embarking on a farewell tour.

Toto Wolff says Carlos Sainz Sr told him about Lewis Hamilton’s imminent Ferrari move

Appearing on the High Performance Podcast, Wolff revealed how he’d found out about Hamilton’s plans. Carlos Sainz’s father called him to impart the news.

Sainz was into the final year of his contract and awaiting a decision on a potential renewal. The team likely informed the Spaniard that they intended to sign Hamilton.

Word then travelled within the F1 community. Drivers started ringing Wolff to put themselves forward for the vacancy alongside George Russell.

“I heard the bells ringing two weeks before,” he said. “The old man Sainz called me and said this is what’s happening. Then there were a few drivers that rang me up that didn’t before.”

Peter Windsor explains how Mercedes have ‘destroyed’ Lewis Hamilton after Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says a British source leaked the Hamilton news to the press. It’s unclear if Mercedes were behind it, but they did remarkably well to prevent earlier leaks, especially if other drivers had caught wind.

Hamilton’s final season at Brackley has fallen short of expectations. Either side of an emotional victory at the British Grand Prix, he’s largely struggled with a baffling W15.

His campaign arguably hit a new low in Brazil last time out as he scored just one point and failed to reach Q3 in either Sprint or Grand Prix qualifying. Russell was a victory contender in the other car.

Peter Windsor says Mercedes have ‘destroyed’ Hamilton’s confidence. He’s lost his ‘feel’ in the cockpit because the car has been ‘so bad’ for so long, and he’ll have to rebuild that at Maranello next year.