Hamilton's Contract News With Ferrari Were Reportedly Leaked By Toto Wolff

Former F1 driver Ivan Capelli suggested Toto Wolff was the one who leaked the news to the media about Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton signed a contract with the German team last summer for seasons 2024 and 2025. However, the 2024 season hasn't even started, and it was announced that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes at the end of it.

The seven-time World Champion will join one of Mercedes's rivals, Scuderia Ferrari. In a recent interview, Hamilton suggested he had to make the decision very quickly.

The negotiations between the 39-year-old were kept secret. The media wouldn't learn about Hamilton's move until the announcement day. He asserted he didn't tell about the contract to anyone, even his parents.

However, Hamilton did talk with Toto Wolff one day before the announcement, and it is now suggested by the former F1 driver, Ivan Capelli, that the Mercedes team principal leaked the news on purpose.

Apparently, the seven-time World Champion's contract with the team from Maranello wasn't supposed to be announced until later in the season. Capelli told La Gazzetta dello Sport:

The way that the former F1 driver framed it seems as if Wolff had a small revenge against his driver and the Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur for making a deal behind his back.

In an interview with the media following the announcement, Wolff admitted Hamilton made the deal with Scuderia behind his back and that he was surprised once he was told about it.

Interestingly, the Austrian has said multiple times in the past he has a very good relationship with the 39-year-old driver as well as with the Ferrari team principal.

Could Wolff really be the one who leaked the news to the media, giving Hamilton and Ferrari no chance to delay their announcement?