- September 3, 2025
‘He Is Still The GOAT’: Toto Wolff Dismisses Lewis Hamilton’s Legacy Doubts
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praises Lewis Hamilton as Formula 1’s greatest driver, regardless of his Ferrari career or retirement outcome.
Lewis Hamilton couldn’t finish the race at the Dutch GP (Picture credit: AP)
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said that no matter how Lewis Hamilton’s career at Ferrari turns out, even if he retires at this point in his career, he would still be the greatest driver ever in Formula 1. Notably, Hamilton left Mercedes for Ferrari but has had a rollercoaster ride.
Hamilton had committed to joining Ferrari ahead of the 2024 season and when the moment arrived, the paddock was filled with anticipation and high expectations for him.
These expectations have yet to come to fruition, as Hamilton has just scored 109 points in the 15 race weekends held till now, with his teammate Charles Leclerc well ahead of him at 151.
“If he retires, he is still the GOAT. He is going to retire, and nobody will ever know that he was at Ferrari in the end. Who thinks about the Schumacher and Mercedes time? That is not relevant for Schumacher’s career, so…,” Wolff was quoted as saying by Motorsport.com.
Hamilton is among the two drivers on the current Formula 1 grid to race in their 40s, besides Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
Examining what the latter is achieving in the Formula 1 sphere, Wolff shared how Hamilton can follow a similar trend and remain one of the strongest drivers on the grid.
“A driver or a sportsperson can compensate for a decline in performance in some areas with overperformance in others. Let’s say your experience can compensate for maybe a lesser speed on a single lap,’ Wolff said.
“I have seen [Fernando] Alonso; he has always been able to compensate. So, I believe Lewis, with a car that gives him the confidence and the feedback, can still be very good,” Wolff added.
Hamilton claimed a sprint victory in China earlier in the year.
At the Dutch GP on Sunday, July 31, the first rain started to fall around lap 15 of 72 and just 10 laps later, it claimed its first victim, as Hamilton slid his Ferrari off the track into the barriers.
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