Wolff reveals kitchen chat prevented Hamilton ‘divorce’

Toto Wolff has revealed how a discussion in his kitchen after the 2016 season finale prevented a divorce between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton.

The 2016 season was Mercedes most successful Formula 1 campaign, the Brackley squad winning 19 of the 21 grands prix, but it was one that was fraught with tension.

Cruising to the Constructors’ Championship with four races in hand, Mercedes also wrapped up the Drivers’ title although that was only decided at the very last race.

Hamilton and his team-mate Nico Rosberg went into the Abu Dhabi finale separated by 12 points in the German’s favour.

Hamilton out-qualified his team-mate and was leading into the final 10 laps with Rosberg right on his tail. Needing the German to lose places, Hamilton tried to back him up into Sebastian Vettel with Mercedes urging the Briton to up the pace.

Hamilton ignored the team order and later told the media: “At that point, what am I supposed to do? Sit there and let the dude win the championship? I had to help myself.”

Wolff was not happy and said of his driver’s antics: “Undermining a structure in public means you are putting yourself before the team. It is very simple.

“Anarchy does not work in any team and in any company.”

"Anarchy doesn't work, but maybe you cannot demand a racing driver to comply [where] his instincts cannot." – Toto Wolff. #F1 @LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/d1AVYp58M1

— Mobil 1 The Grid (@Mobil1TheGrid) November 28, 2016

Mercedes considered disciplinary action but whispers of that were silenced days later when Rosberg shocked the Formula 1 community by announcing his retirement.

But Wolff went into the off-season knowing that a serious talk still needed to take place between himself and Hamilton.

That talk took place during the team’s Christmas party, specifically in his kitchen.

“We met at the Christmas party in my home in Oxfordshire that December, reluctantly,” Wolff told The Times.

“I said we need to decide whether we want to work together or not. ‘You want to win as a driver, I want to win as a team’.

“Sometimes our different agendas are going to lead to conflict and we need to decide whether we can cope with that situation. We were in my kitchen.

“I said to him, and Susie didn’t much like this analogy, that even though Susie and I might disagree about something, it would never come into my mind to divorce.

“‘And it’s the same with you Lewis,’ I said. ‘I don’t want a divorce. You’re the best driver. I want you in our car and we want to provide you with the best car.'”

“We kind of went into this discussion at loggerheads and then, after four or five hours in the kitchen, we found ourselves on a totally different level.

“A purely business related relationship had become a personal relationship. He’s a friend.

“Doesn’t mean we don’t argue anymore but now, Lewis’s success is the team’s success, and the team’s success is Lewis’s success.”

Staying together proved lucrative for both Mercedes and Hamilton, the Brit winning the World title from 2017 to 2020 to bring his overall tally to seven, six of those with Mercedes.

The Brackley squad has also dominated the Constructors’ Championship with the Briton, adding an eighth successive title last season, an unprecedented run.

PlanetF1 Verdict

Kitchen chat prevented Hamilton/Mercedes divorce

Toto Wolff has revealed that a lengthy chat in his kitchen prevented Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes.