Toto Wolff claims his comments about Lewis Hamilton 's "shelf life" were taken out of context. The Mercedes boss will wave goodbye to his world champion driver this winter. Hamilton will call time on his 11-year stint with the Silver Arrows and head to Ferrari with the German outfit replacing him with the young, but highly-rated, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Wolff's comments in a new book published by the team were taken by some as a reference to Hamilton’s performance, suggesting that with age the Brit had begun to decline and the team needed to move him on and pursue younger talent. Hamilton has not challenged for a world championship since narrowly missing out in controversial fashion back in 2021. Wolff though insists that is largely down to the car he's been given and maintained he had no issue with the 39-year-old's performances.
The Mercedes boss has clarified his comments by saying: “What I was referring to is that, all of us, we age, whether it is in being in a car or on a pitch or as a manager or an entrepreneur. And this is what I’m trying to do with myself, to understand am I going from great to good, because good is not in Formula 1 any more.” The make-up of the top four in the current drivers' standings includes Max Verstappen , Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
None of them are older than 27 and Wolff had previously commented that age was a factor behind signing short-term deals with Hamilton. He said in the book: "There is a reason why we only.