After recent weeks of mutual malice and verbal exchanges, Mercedes are now preparing for Lewis Hamilton's farewell race in great unity and full peace.
Toto Wolff spoke ahead of Abu Dhabi, reflecting on the good times and hinting that Lewis Hamilton may continue his career with a rival next year, but will always remain part of the Mercedes family:
“After twelve incredible years, we have come to the point where this weekend Lewis and I will write the final chapter of our shared story. Let’s put our hand on our hearts because it’s been an incredible journey! When we started working together in 2013, we never imagined in our wildest dreams how far we would go together… We have won six individual world championships and eight constructors’ titles. Along the way, we have claimed eighty-four wins, seventy-eight pole positions, one hundred and fifty-three podiums and written the most successful driver-team partnership in Formula 1 history. There have been many successful moments and peaks, and many hardships, that we have overcome together. But our relationship is much more than statistics, it is a legacy that goes beyond the sport.
For example, the joint effort to make F1 more fair, our joint fight for inclusiveness. We started this together and it was a great honor to work with Lewis Hamilton. This weekend will not be just a race weekend, but a celebration. We will celebrate and close everything I have talked about, we will say goodbye and try to gain momentum and strength for the future. We are opening a new chapter with the help of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, but now more than anything else it is more important to end our work together with Lewis Hamilton beautifully. Thank you and once again, for the last time, let's do it!" - emotionally said goodbye to Toto Wolff to the Mercedes success champion.
