The rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen hit its peak in 2021 during their titanic battle for the championship, which ended controversially and left reputations damaged.
Verstappen and Hamilton emerged level on points heading into the final race at Abu Dhabi, after a scrappy race at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in which both teams played gamesmanship tactics to gain an advantage.
Hamilton comfortably had the pace to win the race in Abu Dhabi, but a mistake by FIA Race Control in the closing stages when trying to organise a Safety Car restart by Race Director Michael Masi, enabled Verstappen to overtake Hamilton on the final lap of the race and snatch the title.
The saga left a bitter taste in Hamilton and Mercedes, who felt they were robbed and did not speak to the media in the immediate aftermath, with the team appealing the race result which was later dismissed by the stewards. The seven-time world champion missed the FIA Prize Giving Gala a week later in protest and spent weeks off social media.
Toto Wolff felt Christian Horner and Red Bull should have acknowledged Hamilton’s heartbreak, with it clearly affecting his relationship with Verstappen.
When discussing potentially signing Verstappen after Hamilton’s exit from Mercedes on the latest season of Drive to Survive, which is out on Netflix 7th March, Wolff reveals one thing he ‘promised’ Hamilton while he was at Mercedes.
Toto Wolff promised Lewis Hamilton not to talk to Max Verstappen while at Mercedes
Mercedes was faced with a decision over who to replace Hamilton in 2024, and amid the ongoing Red Bull saga involving Horner, Wolff spotted an opportunity to capitalise on the growing discontent between senior management and the Verstappen family.
When discussing signing Verstappen with his wife Susie Wolff, the Mercedes team boss reveals he made one promise with Hamilton during his time at the team.
Wolff: “Carlos, he had some really good performances. Fernando? Race pace was really good.
Susie: “You don’t think Max is an option?”
Wolff: “I think he is, but if you win all races in a season, why would you leave [Red Bull]? I haven’t talked to him because I promised Lewis not to talk to him, but I will have the conversation now.”
Wolff went on to admit that Verstappen was clearly an option for Mercedes, before they decided to go with 18-year-old protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“I think it would be disingenuous to say I wouldn’t want to work with Max. He’s clearly the best driver and with Christian’s situation, it’s taken its toll. Max knows wrong or right, and he knows what he wants, so its up to him,” said Wolff.
Toto Wolff tells Mercedes bosses George Russell must ‘deliver’ to be number one driver
Amid the news that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes, Wolff spoke to senior members of the team Bradley Lord and Gwen Lagrue about possibilities for 2025.
After dismissing the possibility of Verstappen joining the team, Wolff turned his attention to George Russell who he felt needed to step up to become their number one driver.
Wolff: “It’s so difficult with Max. There is a 1% chance that he changes his mind. Lets go through the options: Carlos, he’s a great guy. How he finished the last season was so strong. We agree we don’t want to rush, the question is can he afford to wait?”
Lord: “What about George?”
Wolff: “He needs to deliver, that’s the only criteria which is important.”
Russell would later vindicate Mercedes’ decision to have him as the lead driver for 2025 with his impressive strategy at the Belgian Grand Prix, which initially won him the race before he was disqualified for having an underweight car.
