The Latest Breaking News from Toto Wolff

Mercedes faces a challenge in finding a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, with options including Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, Esteban Ocon, and young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The Brackley-based squad is on the hunt for a new team-mate for George Russell in 2025, and team boss Toto Wolff has hinted at the possibility of the squad going "bold" in its choice.

Hamilton describes leaving Mercedes as "one of the hardest decisions" of his life

Despite signing a two-year deal with Mercedes in 2023, he will be moving to Ferrari after activating a break clause in his contract

That comes down to typical sportsperson bravado – but the psychological boost of such an approach, to take the positives and shut out the negativity, has long been clear at the top level of all sporting echelons.

Having been quoted briefly in a Mercedes press release that flagged his departure, Hamilton used an Instagram post on Saturday to give an extensive and more personal insight into his decision, and the thought process behind it.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff reveals Lewis Hamilton's surprise decision to join Ferrari in 2025 over breakfast.

The inside track on surprise switch that was pulled off with panache and pace usually reserved for race day

As the German manufacturer comes to terms with Hamilton’s shock decision to join Ferrari from 2025, it is well aware that the new two-year deal it agreed with the seven-time champion last year had flexibility on both sides to be terminated as early as the end of this season.

Wolff says he has no concerns about potentially having to block the flow of information on future development to Hamilton, suggesting that it’s too early to make a call on how that process might work.

The shock news emerged on Thursday that Hamilton will join Ferrari for 2025. This comes only a week after Ferrari re-signed Leclerc, and McLaren retained Norris on "multi-year" extensions.