Former Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner does not believe Toto Wolff would wish Lewis Hamilton to win with Ferrari. Steiner also labeled Wolff’s words as “bullshit for the cameras.”

Lewis Hamilton ended a 12-year union with Mercedes this season ahead of his blockbuster move to Ferrari next season.

Hamilton, who won six F1 drivers’ titles and seven consecutive constructors’ championships with Mercedes bid farewell to the team in Abu Dhabi. He finished P4 in his final race, overtaking his Mercedes teammate in the final race to cap off a fine display.

Toto Wolff said on the team radio during the cool-down lap:

“Lewis that was the drive of a world champion. That’s the drive of a world champion. Amazing”
He added,

“We love you too, and you’re always going to be part of that family. And if we can’t win, you should win.”
However, speaking this week on the Red Flag podcast, Guenther Steiner said he does not believe Toto’s final message to Hamilton was genuine. He argued that the Mercedes boss does not care who wins if the Silver Arrows do not succeed. Steiner said,

“He doesn’t wish him that. That was bullshit for the camera. This was for the camera.”
Speaking about Wolff’s message regarding Hamilton winning another championship, Steiner added,

He [Wolff] didn’t win it so why should he be happy, you know? If he doesn’t win it, he really doesn’t care who wins it, in my opinion.”
Lewis Hamilton’s final radio message to Mercedes
After an unprecedented successful partnership with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton raced for the team one last time in Abu Dhabi. The 7-time F1 champion paid tribute to his team in his final radio message at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Starting the race from P17, Hamilton drove a ride of a “world champion,” as described by Toto Wolff. After the race, Lewis took to his team radio one last time to thank his team of 12 years.

He said:

“We dreamed alone but together. We believed. And as a team, we achieved things that only… Thank you for all the courage, the determination and the passion for seeing me and supporting me. What started out as a leap of faith turned into a journey into the history books. We did everything together and I’m so, so grateful to everyone. Both here and back at the factory. From the bottom of my heart, all the best.”
“I love you guys, I really, really do.”
Hamilton took the checkered flag a record 84 times with Mercedes, the most for a driver with a single team. He also won 153 podiums and six of his seven F1 championships with Silver Arrows.

As Hamilton looks forward to wearing the iconic Ferrari red next season, he will be replaced by F1 prodigy Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes. Can Hamilton win a record eighth championship and end Ferrari’s draught of 16 years without a title?

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Edited by Tanmay Khanna