Toto Wolff Spotted in Ferrari Paddock Amid Lewis Hamilton Uncertainty
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Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was spotted leaving the Ferrari hospitality at the Hungarian Grand Prix, sparking speculation about Lewis Hamilton's future.
After another disappointing race weekend, Hamilton appeared down while speaking with the media on Saturday and Sunday.
He finished 12th in Hungary, the same position he started in, failing to get into Q3.
"It's just me every time. I am useless. Absolutely useless," the seven-time champion told the media after qualifying.
Mercedes CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff scoots in the paddock during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 1, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.
Mercedes CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff scoots in the paddock during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 1, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary.
Photo by"The team has no problem. You can see the car is on pole [with Leclerc]. They probably need to change driver."
Hamilton is notorious for being harsh on himself when things go wrong, but he seemed more upset than usual.
He didn't seem to feel any better after the race.
"There's a lot going on in the background that is not... great, so...," Hamilton added.
"I'm looking forward to coming back," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be back, yeah."
These remarks caused fans online to speculate about Hamilton's future. Could Ferrari actually make a driver change? Will Hamilton walk away from the sport altogether?
There are no concrete reports or indications that this is the case, with Hamilton being backed by boss Fred Vasseur and chairman John Elkann.
Adding fuel to the fire, Wolff was spotted in the Ferrari hospitality area talking with Vasseur and Elkann.
Something is brewing in the paddock... pic.twitter.com/zg6YTG9Nq1 — Cytrus 🍋 (@cytrusf1) August 3, 2025
Given Hamilton's comments and Wolff's belief in the driver, some believe a mid-season swap back to Mercedes could happen.
In reality, these executives could have been meeting about anything - there is no shortage of topics to talk about.
Both teams are engine suppliers who are preparing for the massive 2026 regulations and likely were discussing details about refining the rules.
Hamilton is all but sure to stay at Ferrari, considering the motivation that all parties still have, but if he continues to struggle, a drastic change could be on the horizon.
The British driver made his move to Ferrari over the offseason with a ton of fanfare and hype.
One of the greatest drivers ever was joining the most storied team on the grid as Hamilton pursues his elusive eighth Drivers' Championship.
This season, he is in sixth place with 109 points. He is 175 points behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri in the title race.
Ferrari, somehow, are second in the Constructors' standings, 24 points above Mercedes, though they are almost 300 points behind McLaren.
For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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