Lewis Hamilton WARNED by Toto Wolff as Brit turns from…read more
Lewis Hamilton has been warned by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff that his former team will continue to be a formidable competitor, even after Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season. Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari came early in the year, and Mercedes’ initial struggles seemed to justify the move. The Silver Arrows did not claim their first podium of the season until the ninth race, a frustrating delay for the team that had been so dominant in previous years.
However, since then, Mercedes has made notable progress, winning three races before the summer break. They have re-established themselves as a competitive force, capable of challenging teams like Red Bull and McLaren for race victories. Wolff is confident that this momentum will carry into the 2025 season, with no plans to shift focus entirely to the 2026 regulations just yet.
Wolff addressed this balance of priorities in a conversation with Autosport, referencing a philosophy attributed to F1 legend Niki Lauda. When asked whether to prioritize short-term or long-term success, Lauda famously replied, “Both.” Wolff explained that Mercedes would start their transition to the 2026 regulations slightly earlier than usual, but it would not disrupt their current form. “Nobody’s going to switch the machines off in January unless you’re really nowhere,” he said, emphasizing that Mercedes is still fighting for victories and podiums.
The 2026 season looms large with new regulations, and many in the F1 paddock believe Mercedes will once again be a significant force. Their success in the turbo-hybrid era was largely powered by their dominant engine development, and early discussions suggest that their upcoming power unit is already generating positive buzz. This has been echoed by Williams team principal James Vowles, who spoke highly of Mercedes’ continued work on engine development.
On the Beyond the Grid podcast, Vowles predicted that the differences between power units in 2026 would be more pronounced than they are today, though not to the extreme seen in 2014. He noted, “Mercedes have done an exceptional job,” and suggested that their 2026 engine package could once again put them ahead of the competition.
With these developments in mind, Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari may create an intriguing dynamic, as Mercedes looks poised to remain one of his toughest rivals.
