P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has revealed Carlos Sainz Sr was the individual who alerted him that Lewis Hamilton was negotiating a move to Ferrari.
Prior to the start of the ongoing season, Hamilton dropped a bombshell by activating a break clause in his Mercedes contract to sign with Ferrari. During his annual pre-season visit to Wolff’s house, he informed his long-time team boss that he would be leaving the German outfit. Wolff had a sense of the impending departure of the seven-time F1 champion even before their meeting. Sainz Sr, whose son Carlos will be replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari, had tipped off Wolff weeks prior about the developing situation. Wolff’s suspicions were further heightened when he reached out to Ferrari’s Vasseur, who did not respond, leading him to anticipate Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. This transition prompted Wolff to focus on managing Mercedes’ sponsors and finding a replacement for Hamilton while viewing the situation as a mix of risks and opportunities.
