Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had one word to sum up his feelings about the first pictures of Lewis Hamilton as a Ferrari driver.
Hamilton was unveiled as the Scuderia’s newest superstar on January 20 with a show-stopping photoshoot outside Enzo Ferrari’s iconic house at the team’s Maranello headquarters.
The seven-time world champion was immaculately dressed for the occasion as he sported a black suit and a thick black overcoat.
Hamilton completed his first laps at Ferrari’s Fiorano track two days later as he zipped around in their 2023 car and was roared on by thousands of fans.
The sight of Hamilton in a Ferrari and posing at the team’s headquarters left quite an impression on Wolff, who enjoyed a 12-year working relationship with the Briton.
“It’s a little bit like you divorce amicably, and it’s all good, and then you see your partner for the first time with a new friend,” Wolff told Sky Sports.
“But I’m really happy for him, and I told him that those pictures were iconic that he made.
“It was so well curated and no surprise with Lewis.”
Hamilton and Wolff both joined Mercedes in 2013 and it proved to be the start of one of the most dominant partnerships in Formula 1 history.
Together, Hamilton took home six world championships while Mercedes won eight straight constructors championships from 2014 to 2021.
Hamilton could have had a seventh crown with the Silver Arrows were it not for the highly controversial finish to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, as Max Verstappen won the first of his four world titles.
The closeness of Hamilton and Wolff’s relationship was evident when Mercedes posted the latter’s highly-emotional voice message that encapsulated what their 12 years together meant.
“Yeah, the moment is here, we all knew was coming,” Wolff said.
“We’ve raced the last lap. The longest and most successful partnership in Formula 1 history. Who would have thought that when we started the journey? It’s been a crazy ride for a boy from Stevenage who had a dream, and who shared this journey with us at Mercedes.
“So, now you’re opening up a new chapter with Ferrari. But most importantly, remember one thing: find your people, not just the ones who work with you or sign your contract. Obviously, we know that’s important.
“But the ones who dream with you, who fight with you, who have your back and your ear; the ones who stand with you and kneel with you, the ones who see you, including the parts you don’t want seen, who never stop believing, even when you do sometimes.
“Because when you find your people, you don’t just beat the world, you change it. And whatever the future holds, just remember, we will always be your people, because every dream needs a team. You know it.”
Although they may be close now, Hamilton and Wolff will have to put their long-standing friendship aside once the 2025 season gets underway on March 14 at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
Hamilton’s pre-season preparations haven’t exactly gone to plan as it was reported he suffered a ‘minor’ crash in his second outing behind a Ferrari.
The 40-year-old took part in a private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when he reportedly hit a barrier in the final sector.
Hamilton will hope to have a smoother drive when he and the rest of the F1 grid descends on Bahrain for pre-season testing, which takes place from February 26 to 28.
