P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has shared how not wanting to miss out on Kimi Antonelli, like he did with Max Verstappen, caused him to be relieved when Lewis Hamilton decided to leave the team.
Toto Wolff explained how missing out on Max Verstappen led to Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari. Wolff feared Kimi Antonelli would leave if not offered opportunities, similar to what happened with Verstappen. He hesitated to give Hamilton a two-year deal due to Antonelli’s progress. Agreeing to a one-plus-one deal with Hamilton allowed him to leave at the end of the season. This set the stage for Antonelli to replace Hamilton at Ferrari. Wolff found the situation challenging but understood the circumstances leading to Hamilton’s departure. Ultimately, the decision was made easier knowing Antonelli was waiting in the wings.
