With Toto Wolff also permanently at the helm of Mercedes for the next three seasons, the German team can look to the future. In this, an important role is reserved for Lewis Hamilton. The now 39-year-old driver must become the man to bring Mercedes victories again. Personally, Hamilton wants to win his eighth world title. Is he good enough to do so in an era Max Verstappen dominates?

In any case, Wolff thinks so. The Austrian is firmly convinced that Hamilton can become world champion again, he told the Gazzetta dello Sport: “Absolutely yes, and I want to emphasise this very much. There is a reason why Lewis has broken all records and won seven world titles; because his level is higher than others. If we give him a good car, one he trusts, then he can get back to the front. There is no doubt about that.”

Wolff finds doubt in Hamilton’s mind normal

Hamilton indicated in an interview not long ago that he sometimes doubts himself. Wolff certainly does not find that strange. According to the Austrian, that is actually an important part of a person’s character, improving and growing yourself. “All the extraordinary people I met in my life have that,” Wolff said.

For now, Mercedes cannot match Verstappen, who was the best with Red Bull Racing for two years. Wolff addresses the criticism Verstappen often has about the sprint races in the Italian newspaper. As is well known, the Dutchman is not in favour of that. “As I see it, Max is a purist and he thinks about Formula 1 in the way I often do: Friday and Saturday preparation and qualifying, Sunday the main course with a super exciting run-up to the start.”

“But you have to be open to change. We are of the traditions, even Domenicali (CEO Formula 1). But we have to conquer a new audience and make the sport more modern for young people,” believes Wolff, who thus does not fully agree with Verstappen.