Mercedes and Ferrari: A Friendlier Rivalry Amidst Championship Battle
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton have effectively navigated the complexities of their relationship following Hamilton’s announcement to leave the team at the end of 2024 for Ferrari. Wolff acknowledged the potential for tension but emphasized their commitment to maintaining a positive dynamic.
“It could have been very awkward, borderline hostile," Wolff said in a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal. "We actively talked about how to not make it that… He’s maintained being a friend. He pops up in the office on the weekend and speaks with the engineers. After many Grands Prix, he travels back with me.”
As of mid-2025, the competition between Mercedes and Ferrari is intensifying, with just 12 points separating the two teams in the Constructors’ Championship. Wolff noted that while the on-track rivalry remains fierce, their off-track relationship remains intact. “On the racetrack, we want to beat you. No doubt about that. But it’s been 12 years that we have been in this relationship. We trust each other,” he stated.
Hamilton, now in his first season with Ferrari, currently sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship standings, with 103 points—131 points behind leader Oscar Piastri and 16 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The relationship dynamics also extended to personal aspects, with Wolff humorously sharing insights into Hamilton’s dating life. “I’m living a different life through his eyes… I’m saying, ‘Yes, you should [go for that girl], and tell me how it was,’” he recounted.
This blend of professional rivalry and personal friendship exemplifies a unique chapter in both drivers’ careers as they prepare for the remaining races of the season.
