Formula 1 Drive to Survive launches on Friday with another 10 episodes of behind-the-scenes action, ahead of the 2025 season getting under way in Australia; Toto Wolff’s pursuit of Max Verstappen and who should replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes was a big topic last year
Toto Wolff appears to suggest Lewis Hamilton did not want Max Verstappen at Mercedes when he was driving for the Silver Arrows, the release of Netflix’s Drive to Survive season seven has revealed.
The latest series of the documentary has an episode which focuses on which driver would replace Hamilton after the seven-time world champion shockingly announced he would leave Mercedes at the end of 2024 for Ferrari.
Hamilton, who joined Mercedes in 2013, has repeatedly alluded over his career in F1 he will be team-mates with anyone and told Sky Sports in 2023 that he “100 per cent would be more than happy” to race against Verstappen in equal machinery but thinks the Dutchman does not want to be team-mates with him.
The behind-the-scenes footage in Drive to Survive shows Wolff speaking to his wife Susie Wolff at the balcony of their home in Monaco, pondering whether George Russell is good enough to lead the team from 2025 and who should replace Hamilton.
“So Carlos [Sainz] is somebody to look at. He’s had some really good performances,” Toto says
Fernando [Alonso], I mean, race pace, racecraft is still very good.
Susie replies: “You’re not going to be starting a new era with a long contract with Fernando, it’s an interim.”