Lewis Hamilton says what he thinks after Toto Wolff's comment on his F1 shelf life

Mercedes brag Toto Wolff caused a absorption from F1 fans erstwhile helium suggested Lewis Hamilton's determination to permission for Ferrari benefitted his squad and said each operator person 'a support life'

Lewis Hamilton insists his narration with Toto Wolff volition not sour contempt the Mercedes boss' comments astir his "shelf life" successful Formula 1.

Hamilton is leaving the squad for a caller task with Ferrari. The seven-time F1 champion volition person turned 40 by the clip helium makes his debut for his caller leader and plentifulness of questions person been asked regarding whether helium inactive has what it takes to triumph titles.

And his existent boss, Mercedes squad main Wolff, turned heads erstwhile helium suggested a content that Hamilton mightiness beryllium declining. "I similar the situation. It helps america due to the fact that it avoids the infinitesimal wherever we request to archer the sport's astir iconic operator that we privation to stop," helium said of the Brit's Ferrari switch.

He besides told Matt Whyman, writer of publication Inside Mercedes F1 which was published earlier this month, that helium believes "everyone has a support life", which was taken by galore to mean helium believed Hamilton is approaching the extremity of his.

Speaking to BBC Radio Four astir it this week, Wolff insisted: "That was taken a small spot retired of context. What I was referring to is that each of us, we age, and whether it is successful the car, connected a pitch, oregon arsenic a manager and entrepreneur, you person to - and this is what I americium trying to bash with myself - recognize americium I going from large to good. Because bully is not successful Formula 1 anymore.

"Now, contrary to my ain self-assessment, I deliberation we spot with Lewis that helium is precise overmuch determination erstwhile the car is right. And we person not been capable to springiness him that car for him to execute champion and that is simply a vexation that we arsenic person successful the squad and for himself. But helium is precise sharp. He is antithetic to erstwhile helium was a 20-year-old, that is surely clear. His acquisition and his contention trade is tremendous."

Asked up of this weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix however helium felt astir what his brag had said, Hamilton was intelligibly blessed to judge that explanation. He replied: "I don't truly person overmuch [to say].

"I spoke to Toto earlier. I person not seen the news, if I americium honest, up until this weekend, truthful I person not been keeping up to day with it. I deliberation helium clarified his point, and Toto has been massively supportive implicit the years truthful it does not truly [have] immoderate bearing."

Hamilton was besides asked astir his comments aft the past contention successful Brazil, erstwhile helium said helium was "looking guardant to Christmas" and that helium would "take a holiday". The Brit admitted that, successful the moment, helium had considered ending his last Mercedes play aboriginal to get distant from his wretched car.

He said: "In the infinitesimal I did not consciousness great, obviously, with that past race... Heat of the moment, sure. I would overmuch alternatively beryllium connected the beach, chilling. I bash not request to bash this, but I americium present and I emotion this occupation still. I americium present to perfectly springiness it my each these past fewer races, and decorativeness retired strong, and that was ever the plan."