Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has opened up about the “magic” that defined Lewis Hamilton during his twelve-year stint with Mercedes, both as a driver and a person.
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes, and subsequent move to Ferrari, marks the end of a remarkable partnership with the Brackley squad that has redefined success in Formula 1.
During this time, the Briton secured six of his seven world titles with Mercedes and claimed 84 of his record-breaking 105 grand prix victories.
Reflecting on this unparalleled journey, Wolff offered an insightful and heartfelt assessment of what makes Hamilton so special.
When asked what sets Hamilton apart from his peers, Wolff’s response was simple yet profound.
“Magic.” Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Wolff elaborated on the unique blend of attributes that define the 39-year-old F1 legend.
“Whatever I say now wouldn’t give it justice to how good he is,” Wolff began. “Magic. And that combines all of the skills.
“The genes, the talent, the nurturing from his father in the early years. Hard work ethic, intelligence, social intelligence, no-fear attitude, constant development of himself.”
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Wolff emphasized that Hamilton’s accomplishments are a reflection of an extraordinary confluence of factors.
“Probably I have words for a minute more if I had to think about it, because he’s a seven-time world champion and won god knows how many races. In that respect, there hasn’t been anyone else like this.”
Despite his immense success, Hamilton has spoken candidly about his struggles with self-doubt throughout his career. For Wolff, this vulnerability is not a weakness but rather one of the Briton’s greatest strengths.
“If you doubt and you question, you try to improve. It keeps you on your toes and that’s what makes you better,” the Austrian explained.
“If you think you are the real deal, then that’s when you fail. I’ve seen it over and over again from people.”
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This constant questioning and striving for improvement have been hallmarks of Hamilton’s career, enabling him to stay at the top of a sport where the margins between success and failure are razor-thin.
Wolff’s admiration for his now former driver extends beyond his driving abilities to his relentless pursuit of personal growth.
When asked what he has learned most from Hamilton, Wolff pointed to the former’s commitment to self-improvement.
“The constant self-development, not only in a professional function. For him it’s the driving, for me it’s maybe running the team. But also how he embraced this personal change,” Wolff shared.
Their relationship, however, hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Wolff recounted a pivotal moment in 2016 following Hamilton’s title defeat to teammate Nico Rosberg.
“There was a moment where we had a really difficult time in 2016 after Nico won the race and the championship and we didn’t talk to each other for a few weeks.
“He came to my home because I said ‘we have to talk’,” Wolff recalled.
“We spent many hours and we came out of this discussion, which was before the Christmas party, so strong. That was the foundation of our friendship and relationship in the years to come.”
That conversation proved to be a turning point in their partnership, leading to the creation of a unique rule to maintain open communication.
“What I said to him is ‘we cannot not speak to each other. If there’s something which annoys us, you have to pick up the phone and tell me.’ And I promised to do the same,” Wolff explained.
“The rule we choose is, if there is something which makes us angry we talk about it before we switch the light off in the evening. We don’t let it drag into the next day.”
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This principle of immediate conflict resolution became a cornerstone of their relationship. Wolff admitted that he once failed to uphold this rule, only for Hamilton to remind him of its importance.
“A year or two passed and we had a situation that annoyed me and I didn’t call him. And he called me and said: ‘remember what you said to me? We have to speak to each other.’ I said: ‘you’re so absolutely right.’”
For Wolff, this moment exemplified Hamilton’s remarkable ability to internalize valuable lessons and embody them fully.
“When he thinks something is really good, a good skill to have, a character trait or a mindset, he just becomes that.”
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