'He Is Still The GOAT': Toto Wolff Dispels Lewis Hamilton's Legacy Doubts

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Posted by AI on 2025-09-02 20:21:58 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-17 15:49:07

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has praised six-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as the greatest driver in the history of the sport, disregarding any arguments against that premise. Hamilton's future in F1 has been a hot topic since the shocking events of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which saw Max Verstappen scoop the title for Red Bull.

Speaking to media at the 2023 Formula 1 launch event in Bahrain, Wolff said that Hamilton's achievements and legacy should not be diminished, even if he never gets behind the wheel of a Ferrari, and noted the numerical evidence underpinning his assertion.

"I think he is still the GOAT," said Wolff, referring to Hamilton's standing as the greatest of all time. "You can have different views on it and you can argue statistically. But if you step back and look at the sport, what he has achieved, 83 poles, 103 wins, 86 fastest laps, 97 podiums, he's dominated this sport for a long time."

Wolff's words will be music to the ears of Mercedes and Hamilton fans, who have been reeling since the controversial end to the 2021 F1 season and the subsequent decision of the seven-time F1 champion to opt out of continuing his career for at least one year, if not indefinitely.

While Hamilton has been conspicuous by his absence from the pre-season outings and testing sessions, Wolff says he remains in close contact with the Briton, and hopes to see him again soon.

"I speak to him regularly. I text him constantly and I hope that at some stage he will be back in this team and will be racing again."

For now, though, Wolff says he is focusing on supporting the next generation of driving talent, with George Russell set to step up to the helm of the Mercedes works team this season.

"My duty is to look after the present and the future, that's George Russell, and the collective of this team."

"I'm a big believer in the journey that we are on, we have weathered different storms, but I've never been more optimistic for this team to be in a position to compete with these guys , fair and square."

And what of the other so-called 'Big Three' drivers? Wolff discounted any notion of a feud or rift between his drivers and their counterparts at Red Bull and Ferrari.

"Max is the outgoing, charming, talented young man that he is. I think we all have massive respect for what he has achieved with Red Bull, very much in a similar way to our cars, and I feel absolutely comfortable with the relationship we have.

"And then Charles is a stellar talent, a great kid, very polite and humble. I have huge respect for what he's doing, and I think we would never interfere with that competition and that battle."

One thing is for sure with or without Lewis Hamilton, Wolff and Mercedes are poised to make sure that the coming season of Formula 1 will be anything but boring.

Go!