Toto Wolff Defends “GOAT” Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has leapt to the defence of his former driver Lewis Hamilton following the Briton’s recent self-critical comments, insisting the seven-time world champion remains “the greatest of all time” and should continue racing “for many more years.”

Hamilton made headlines over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend after a surprise Q2 exit left him starting 12th. He labelled himself “absolutely useless” and even suggested Ferrari “probably need to change driver.” The 40-year-old went on to finish 12th in the race, later admitting he was “looking forward to going away” for the summer break amid “a lot going on in the background that is not great.”

Asked about Hamilton’s remarks, Wolff said: “That is Lewis wearing his heart on his sleeve. It’s what he thought very much when he was asked after the session. It was very raw. He was doubting himself. We had it in the past when he felt that he underperformed his own expectations. He’s been that emotionally transparent since he was a young boy or a young adult. So, he’s going to beat himself up.

“He’s the GOAT and he will always be the GOAT, and nobody is going to take that away. For sure, no single weekend or race season that hasn’t gone to plan. That’s something he needs to always remember – he’s the greatest of all time.”

Wolff and Hamilton enjoyed an immensely successful partnership at Mercedes from 2013 to 2024, securing six of Hamilton’s seven world titles. The other came in 2008 with McLaren, while his near-miss for an eighth crown came in the controversial 2021 finale against Max Verstappen.

“Lewis has unfinished business in F1,” Wolff continued. “In the same way that Mercedes underperformed over this latest set of regulations since 2022 and kind of never got happy with ground effect cars… in the same way it beats him. Maybe it’s linked to driving style. He shouldn’t go anywhere next year. Brand new cars, completely different to drive, new power units that need an intelligent way of managing the energy. That’s absolutely on for Lewis and I hope he stays on for many more years. Certainly, next year is going to be an important one.”

When asked if Hamilton could still win an eighth world championship, Wolff was unequivocal: “I think if he has a car underneath him that he has confidence in, that does what he wants, then yes. If he has a car that’s not giving him the feedback that he wants, and that was the Mercedes of the past few years, and that seems to be the Ferrari and even worse, then not. But you ask me whether he has it… he definitely has it.”