Lewis Hamilton has bid farewell to Mercedes after spending 12 successful years with the team, but some things take time to settle. As Hamilton raced in Ferrari colors for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff couldn’t help but keep an eye on him on the scoreboard, alongside watching his own drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Wolff says he still cares for Hamilton and always will.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on watching Lewis Hamilton at AGP
Reflecting on watching the race in Melbourne, Wolff told PlanetF1.com, “When I was looking at the screens, at times, I looked at it as if we had three drivers. I was watching RUS, I was watching ANT, and I was watching HAM. Then you realize, ‘Well, HAM is actually with Ferrari, and he’s not with us anymore.’”
Expressing his continued fondness for Hamilton, Wolff added, “It was such a long time together, it’s logical. You cannot just say he’s gone, and you don’t care anymore. I very much care how he’s doing, but obviously, on track, he’s the competition, and we need to beat the competition.”
How Mercedes performed at the Australian Grand PrixFor the record, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished in 3rd and 4th positions, respectively, at the AGP, while Hamilton finished 10th. According to several predictions, McLaren proved to have the best car, with Lando Norris emerging as the winner and reigning champion Max Verstappen taking second position.
Despite securing a podium finish, Wolff is clear about what’s keeping them slower than the winner on the track. Addressing the team's challenges, Wolff said they have a deficit in managing the tires, as they are getting too hot.
However, Wolff made it clear that they haven’t lost hope after the AGP. “We are where we are, and that’s why you can never take your foot off the throttle. We have to analyze what we can do to manage the tires better,” he said.
“In terms of how we prioritize 2026 versus this year, just after the first race weekend, you have to keep your cool and continue your trajectory,” he added.
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The 10 Formula 1 teams are now gearing up for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, which will take place from March 21 to 23.
