P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Mercedes Team Principal admits that he was “surprised” by the news that Lewis Hamilton would leave the team early, but believes it has not impacted the team moral.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff stated that despite the surprising news of Lewis Hamilton leaving, nothing has changed within the team. Hamilton decided to switch to Ferrari for 2025, leaving Mercedes facing the task of finding a replacement within the next 12 months. Wolff respected Hamilton’s decision and expressed that although the timing was unexpected, they had anticipated their partnership coming to an end eventually. The team remains focused on maximizing their potential for the upcoming season, having George Russell as a strong cornerstone for the future and aiming for a successful final year with Hamilton. Wolff emphasized the importance of the next months in selecting a replacement for Hamilton and setting the team’s future direction in the ever-evolving world of Formula 1.
