Toto Wolff clarifies his comments on Lewis Hamilton, emphasizing that aging doesn’t inherently limit a driver’s performance or potential.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes F1 team principal, stated that a comment he made about Lewis Hamilton had been “somewhat taken out of context.”
In a new book titled Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane, the Austrian remarked that he believed “everyone has a lifespan” when discussing Hamilton’s surprise decision to move to Ferrari.
Some interpreted these comments as suggesting that Hamilton, a 39-year-old seven-time world champion, might have passed his peak as he prepares to leave Mercedes at the end of the season.
However, ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Wolff emphasized that this was not what he meant.
“What I was referring to is that we all age, whether it’s in a car, on a field, or as a manager or entrepreneur,” he explained.
“And that’s what I try to do with myself—evaluate whether I’m moving from excellence to quality, because quality is no longer enough in Formula 1.”
“But contrary to what I might think, we see with Lewis that he’s very much present when the car is competitive, and we haven’t been able to provide him with the car to perform at his best. That’s a frustration we feel both within the team and for him personally.”
“He’s still very sharp. He’s different from what he was at 20, that’s clear, but his experience and racing instincts are remarkable.”
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Wolff on Hamilton: Age Doesn’t Define Performance Levels Wolff on Hamilton: Age Doesn’t Define Performance Levels
