The 2025 Formula 1 season is in full swing, and the headlines are swirling around the tense dynamic between Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, and his former Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was arguably the most significant in recent Formula 1 history, but the first ten races of the season have been anything but easy for the seven-time world champion.

As Hamilton struggles to adapt to his new team and the challenging SF-25 car, his longtime mentor, Toto Wolff, has waded into the debate with a surprising and bitter statement that has further inflamed tensions between the two camps.

After a disappointing start to the season, in which Hamilton had yet to secure a single Grand Prix podium, the Briton was under increasing pressure. His teammate Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, took the lead with three podiums and consistent performances, which intensified the criticism of Hamilton. Hamilton expressed his frustration, particularly after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and spoke of a “painful” 2025 as he struggles to master the Ferrari. The Italian media and the tifosi, Ferrari’s fervent fans, are growing increasingly impatient, expecting more from their new star. Hamilton’s best results so far have come in two sprint races, including a resounding victory in China, but he has not lived up to expectations in the regular races.

Toto Wolff, who accompanied Hamilton at Mercedes for twelve years and won six drivers’ titles and eight constructors’ championships with him, did not leave his former driver’s criticism unanswered. In an interview with the Bloomberg Hot Pursuit podcast, Wolff made it clear: “You don’t forget how to drive that fast.” These five shocking words sent a clear message to critics who question Hamilton’s abilities. Wolff emphasized that Hamilton simply needed time to adapt to the new environment at Ferrari. He pointed out that Hamilton had proven time and time again throughout his career that he found his “mojo” and improved his performances in the second half of the season. “Lewis was excellent in 2021, then the rules changed and it became more difficult, but he still performed at the highest level,” Wolff added, highlighting the consistent class of his former protégé.

While Wolff defends Hamilton, there appears to be a disagreement between the two. Hamilton himself has suggested in recent interviews that Ferrari may be too conservative in its approach to the new front wing regulations, which will come into effect after the Spanish Grand Prix. Wolff, however, refuted this claim, saying that Ferrari is more conservative than other teams in this regard, which could even give them an advantage. Hamilton’s response to Wolff’s comment was cautious but humorous: “I have absolutely no idea where he got that statement from,” he told RacingNews365, jokingly adding that he hoped Wolff was right. This minor dig shows that the relationship between the two, while friendly, is not without its tensions.

Ferrari’s struggles in the 2025 season are compounding the situation. The team is struggling to manage a car that lacks the pace to compete with McLaren, Red Bull, or even Mercedes. The upgrades made at Imola and Monaco have only brought marginal improvements, and Hamilton himself has recently called for further upgrades to compete with the leaders. He also suffered an unfortunate accident in Canada, when a collision with a marmot came too late, but Hamilton fought valiantly to finish sixth despite losing 20 downforce points.

Toto Wolff remains optimistic about Hamilton’s return to form. “If he can balance all his performance factors and feel comfortable in the car, he will be brilliant,” Wolff emphasized. Mercedes’ 2025 season is off to a great start with George Russell and young Andrea Kimi Antonelli, even if they are lagging behind McLaren and Red Bull. Wolff emphasized that Hamilton’s departure is an opportunity to reinvent the team and praised the dynamics of his new driver duo. However, the question remains whether Hamilton will regain his former strength at Ferrari or whether the criticism will continue to intensify. The next few races, starting with the Austrian Grand Prix, will be crucial in demonstrating whether Wolff’s faith in Hamilton is justified.