Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton ‘will always be the GOAT’ as he points to seven-time champion’s ‘unfinished business’ in F1

Toto Wolff has given his take on Lewis Hamilton’s recent self-criticism, arguing that the Briton remains “the greatest of all time” and should stay in the sport “for many more years”.

Hamilton made headlines over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend when he reacted to a surprise Q2 exit by describing himself as “absolutely useless” and suggesting Ferrari “probably need to change driver”.

After starting and finishing 12th in the race, Hamilton added that he was “looking forward to going away” for the summer break, with “a lot going on in the background that is not great”.

Asked for his reaction to Hamilton’s comments following last weekend’s action at the Hungaroring, Mercedes boss Wolff said: “That is Lewis wearing his heart on his sleeve.

“It’s what he thought very much when he was asked after the session. It was very raw. He was doubting himself.

“We had it in the past when he felt that he underperformed his own expectations. He’s been that emotionally transparent since he was a young boy or a young adult. So, he’s going to beat himself up.

“He’s the GOAT and he will always be the GOAT, and nobody is going to take that away. For sure, no single weekend or race season that hasn’t gone to plan. That’s something he needs to always remember – he’s the greatest of all time.”

Wolff and Hamilton worked together at Mercedes from 2013 to 2024, a period that yielded six of the 40-year-old’s seven world titles – the other achieved with McLaren back in 2008.

Hamilton came close to adding an eighth crown in a fiercely contested 2021 season, which saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen triumph in dramatic circumstances at the Abu Dhabi finale.

“Lewis has unfinished business in F1,” Wolff continued, as he pondered Hamilton’s future.

“In the same way that Mercedes underperformed over this latest set of regulations since 2022 and kind of never got happy with ground effect cars… in the same way it beats him.

“Maybe it’s linked to driving style. He shouldn’t go anywhere next year. Brand new cars, completely different to drive, new power units that need an intelligent way of managing the energy.

“That’s absolutely on for Lewis and I hope he stays on for many more years. Certainly, next year is going to be an important one.”

Pressed on whether he believes Hamilton can still win an eighth title, Wolff commented: “I think if he has a car underneath him that he has confidence in, that does what he wants, then yes.

“If he has a car that’s not giving him the feedback that he wants, and that was the Mercedes of the past few years, and that seems to be the Ferrari and even worse, then not.

“But you ask me whether he has it… he definitely has it.”