Toto Wolff has hinted he made a mistake that might’ve led to Lewis Hamilton departing Mercedes.

The motorsport world was sent into a state of shock last year when it was announced Hamilton would fulfil a childhood dream by signing for Ferrari.

His move is set to come into effect ahead of the 2025 Formula One season, but had things been done differently, Hamilton might still have been contracted to the Silver Arrows instead.

Wolff explains the disagreement, which centred around the team’s novel zero-pod concept to comply with the new ground-effect regulations, with Hamilton during an episode of Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’.

Wolff said: “Last year, the development of the car, you weren’t happy with me. You know, sticking to the concept from last year, holding on to it because of the encouraging results at the end — the biggest [failure].

“For me, personally, when you see the step that Aston Martin made over the winter, it shows that if we get it right with the concept of the car, the aero, and the balance, we can win a championship. But I don’t want to wait until 2026 when we have the new engine regulations.”

The concept was eventually changed as per Hamilton’s request, with the British driver able to produce more consistent results at the back end of the 2023 season, finishing the campaign in P4.

He even penned a contract extension in August of that season, but Hamilton went on to exercise his release clause to facilitate the move to Ferrari.

Fast forward to February 2025 and Wolff has reflected on the pair’s partnership, revealing he now believes the time was right for Hamilton and Mercedes to part.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, he said: “It was right for both of us. I think when you see Lewis Hamilton in his first appearance at Ferrari, this picture in front of Enzo Ferrari’s house, it’s iconic.

“Lewis with his sense of style, and I’ve told him.And at the same time, us embarking on a different route, trying to reinvent ourselves with a young driver – in addition to George, who isn’t mentioned enough. We have a senior, accomplished driver that has won races, and this new kid coming up. I think it was a refresh for both of us.”

Hamilton will make his Formula One debut as a Ferrari driver when the season gets underway in mid-March.