Lewis Hamilton: Toto Wolff says he wants outgoing Mercedes driver to win at Ferrari if Silver Arrows can't

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed that if his own team is unable to clinch the championship, he would be happy to see Lewis Hamilton achieve victory with Ferrari.

Hamilton advanced from 16th place to secure a fourth-place finish in his last race for Mercedes on Sunday, marking an emotional conclusion to his 12-year stint with the Silver Arrows at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 39-year-old revealed earlier this season that he plans to join Ferrari in 2025 and acknowledged that he "greatly underestimated" the difficulties he faced this year.

Next year, Italian teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take over Hamilton's position at Mercedes.

"If we aren't able to come out on top, we'll support him instead," Wolff commented.

"He deserves an eighth championship, but it's clear that the team, the drivers, and the brand take top priority in our quest for victory. We will do everything possible to achieve that."

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Hamilton, who passed George Russell during the final lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, has secured six championships, achieved victory in 84 races, and earned 78 pole positions while racing for Mercedes.

Wolff mentions that he plans to "put in effort to nurture the connection" with Hamilton. This includes sharing meals and going on motorcycle rides with the most successful driver in Formula 1 history.

"It's been 12 years. This is not just the longest partnership between a driver and a team in the history of the sport, but it's also one of the longest associations between any sports team and an athlete," Wolff added.

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Having one of the longest personal relationships with someone fosters a deep sense of attachment and trust. In today's world, those qualities are increasingly uncommon. This is why this time we’ve shared will always be cherished in our hearts.

"This has been one of the most rewarding times for both me and the team."

Hamilton: Final 'Hammer Time' Moment Clicked!

Hamilton faced a tough break on Saturday when he was eliminated in the first qualifying session after hitting a curb, placing him in 16th position for the race.

He was the sole competitor who began the race on hard tires, allowing him to extend his initial stint. Later in the race, he switched to medium tires and launched an impressive surge, passing Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, Alpine's Pierre Gasly, and executing a daring maneuver against his teammate Russell on the last lap.

Lewis Hamilton's engineer, Peter Bonnington, gained recognition for his iconic radio message, "it's hammer time Lewis," which he would use to urge Hamilton to intensify his efforts during crucial races. This phrase served as a cue for Hamilton to give it his all before heading into the pits. Bonnington communicated that message one final time in Abu Dhabi, making it a memorable moment for Hamilton.

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"I realized when Bono mentioned it was 'time to get to work' during the pit stop, that it was a moment I wouldn't hear again. It struck me clearly at that time," Hamilton shared with Sky Sports F1.

"The race was incredibly tough for me, and of course, I didn't have as strong a start as my new teammate, Charles Leclerc, did."

"That initial phase was incredibly challenging. I didn't lose my optimism; I just felt, 'Well, this isn't going as smoothly as I anticipated.'"

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"I didn't lose hope; I kept at it, thinking, 'We can make it happen.' When I changed to different tires, the car really started to perform excellently. I had a big lead to overcome, so I concentrated on maximizing the car's potential and refused to back down."

"I aimed to wrap things up on a positive note and put forth my utmost effort for the team, just as they have done for me throughout the years."

He shared with F1 TV, "I will really miss everyone. I can't express how much I'll miss them. It's going to be significant because I've been working alongside them every day for the last 12 years. There's a strong bond within this team, and that won't change."

Catch all 24 race weekends of the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 14 to 16. You can stream Sky Sports through NOW, where there's no contract required, and you can cancel whenever you like.