Toto Wolff reveals Lewis Hamilton scuppered Mercedes’ chance to sign Lando Norris or Charles Leclerc

TOTO WOLFF has claimed Lewis Hamilton scuppered Mercedes’ accidental to motion Lando Norris oregon Charles Leclerc.

The Merc brag lifts the lid connected the seven-time satellite champion’s daze determination to Ferrari successful tell-all book, Inside Mercedes F1: Life successful the Fast Lane.

Hamilton stunned Formula One fans successful February by announcing helium would determination to the Italian squad successful 2025.

Wolff has been unfastened astir sniffing astir Red Bull’s triple satellite champ Max Verstappen this season.

But this is the archetypal clip helium has spoken of lining up McLaren’s Brit prima Norris and Ferrari’s Leclerc.

Wolff said: “I had it connected my radar Lewis would go. I couldn’t recognize wherefore he’d alteration to different squad earlier we knew if we were going to beryllium competitive.

“It besides didn’t springiness maine clip to react. I perchance missed retired connected negotiating with different drivers who signed deals a fewer weeks earlier, similar Leclerc and Norris.

“But bash I instrumentality that personally? This was conscionable a concern decision.

“We’ve enjoyed specified a palmy travel together, present we person our ain objectives. This didn’t adjacent determination the needle for me.

“I’m thick-skinned. I’ve had immoderate beauteous pugnacious moments successful my beingness and this doesn’t compare.”

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Hamilton departs astatine the extremity of the season aft much than a decennary nether Wolff’s guidance arsenic helium goes disconnected successful hunt of an eighth satellite crown.

The 39-year-old secured six of his 7 titles with the assistance of the Austrian squad main since the brace arrived astatine Merc successful 2013.

His stint with them is the longest by a operator astatine a azygous constructor successful F1 past — surpassing Michael Schumacher’s 11 Ferrari seasons.

But the Brit has struggled to vie since being cruelly denied a record-setting eighth title astatine the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

In the book, released yesterday, Hamilton said: “I consciousness similar I’m ending a narration that’s perfectly fine.

“We’re inactive successful love. I haven’t mislaid religion successful the team. I’m leaving for myself.”

Asked astir breaking the quality to Wolff astatine his location successful Oxford, helium added: “It was the hardest gathering I’ve ever had.

“I needed to bash it successful idiosyncratic due to the fact that that’s what integrity is each about. But I knew it would beryllium difficult. Ultimately, arsenic humans we’re wounded erstwhile things end.

“But I besides cognize that our relationship goes beyond business. That’s however I presumption it and I anticipation Toto does, too.”

In the book, Hamilton goes connected to picture however helium broke the quality to his contention squad astatine a pre-season paintballing get-together.

He said: “It’s ever been a accidental for everyone to person immoderate fun.

“So, I arrived successful the car parkland and saw my squad waiting to spell in. They each looked acceptable to person a bully time.

“I was truthful tense astir what I had to accidental that for a fewer minutes I couldn’t bring myself to get retired of the car.

“Everyone was truthful kind, knowing and truthful positive. I’m committed to giving my each to this season.

“But aboriginal this year, I cognize there’s a realisation that volition deed maine hard. I’m not going sojourn the mill immoderate much oregon spot my team-mates, whom I adore.”

• Inside Mercedes F1: Life successful the Fast Lane by Matt  Whyman, published by Century, is retired now. RRP £22.