Lewis Hamilton ahead of the ongoing campaign, secured a shocking late-career switch to Ferrari from the commencement of the 2025 season onwards. Everyone in the paddock was caught off-guard as Mercedes had to rush into the decision of finalizing a second driver. Hence, following Kimi Antonelli‘s signing, Toto Wolff berated the timing of Hamilton’s move to Maranello.

Christian Horner had recently declared that Lewis Hamilton decided to ‘jump ship’ at the right time. Toto Wolff didn’t feel the same about the Briton’s move to Ferrari. Wolff reckoned that he was aware of Hamilton wanting to switch teams.

However, the Austrian boss couldn’t understand the timing of the move as he changed teams before witnessing the competitiveness of Mercedes this season. I had it on my radar Lewis would go. I couldn’t understand why he’d change to another team before we knew if we were going to be competitive.

Toto Wolff said in Mercedes’s book Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast LaneMoreover, Wolff highlighted that an ill-timed switch from Hamilton gave the former no time to react. Due to the timing of the move, the team principal couldn’t try to acquire some of the talented available drivers. The 53-year-old was not impressed by missing out on Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris due to the timing.

It also didn’t give me time to react. I possibly missed out on negotiating with other drivers who signed deals a few weeks earlier, like Leclerc and Norris. Toto Wolff addedRELATEDEx-F1 driver blames Lando Norris for being ‘too passive’ against Max Verstappen at Brazilian GPToto Wolff labeled Lewis Hamilton’ move as a ‘business decision’Multiple people still question the reason behind Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari in the coming season.

The Mercedes book also revealed the reason behind the move as explained by Matt Whyman. Apart from this, Wolff believed that the switch to Maranello was nothing short of a business decision. As a result, the team principal didn’t take the situation too personally.

But do I take that personally? This was just a business decision. We’ve enjoyed such a successful journey together, now we have our own objectives.

This didn’t even move the needle for me. I’m thick-skinned. I’ve had some pretty tough moments in my life and this doesn’t compare.

Toto Wolff notedLewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff (via racefans. net)Mercedes’s improving pace in the 2024 season might have made Hamilton think twice regarding his move. Regardless, the 39-year-old is already looking forward to driving for the Italian constructor in the coming season.

Hence, time will tell about how the ordeal pans out for one of the winningest drivers on the track in Formula 1. RELATEDLewis Hamilton reveals the first time he thought of being co-chair at the Met Gala