P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has declared his claim “everyone has a shelf life” in relation to Lewis Hamilton’s impending F1 departure was taken “out of context”.
Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025, ending his successful partnership with Mercedes due to an exit clause in his contract signed last September. Mercedes will miss the services of the seven-time F1 champion, but team principal Wolff sees a positive in Hamilton’s move, avoiding the need to tell him “we want to stop.” Wolff emphasized the importance of cognitive sharpness in F1, hinting at a driver’s shelf life and the need for new talent like 18-year-old prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Although Mercedes has not given Hamilton the car to perform at his best in his final season, Wolff praised Hamilton’s race craft and appreciated his early communication about the move to Ferrari to allow for a smooth succession plan. Hamilton’s decision is seen as a chance for both sides to reinvent and reinvigorate themselves after 12 years together.
