P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has denied claims Lewis Hamilton checked out during his final Formula 1 season with Mercedes.
In 2024, despite winning two races, Lewis Hamilton struggled in his final season with Mercedes, finishing seventh overall and 22 points behind his teammate George Russell. Hamilton publicly displayed frustration over his performance and sent a cryptic radio message after a disappointing race in Sao Paulo, hinting at a potential early exit from Mercedes. Speculation arose that Hamilton had mentally checked out and was more focused on his upcoming move to Ferrari than on his current team. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remained confident in Hamilton’s professionalism, and Hamilton finished his Mercedes tenure on a high note by charging from 16th to fourth in the final race. Nevertheless, Hamilton’s performance decline in 2024, particularly in qualifying, compared to his pre-2022 dominance, raised concerns for his future at Ferrari in 2025.
