“Lewis has unfinished business in F1,” claims Wolff as he reflect on the se

Amid a difficult period for seven-time F1 champion Leiws Hamilton, Toto Wolff - his former boss at Mercedes - claimed that "Lewis has unfinished business in F1.”

Lewis Hamilton’s recent on-track challenges continued last time out at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Ferrari driver finishing the Mogyoród race a lap down and outside the points-paying positions.

After a tricky first day of practice, Hamilton dropped out in the second Qualifying phase and started from 12th position – commenting afterwards that he was “absolutely useless” and Ferrari “probably need to change driver”.

Hamilton’s hopes of making progress around the tight, twisty Budapest venue were low, and having started the 70-lap race on Pirelli's hard tyres, he dropped a further two places at the start. Stuck in traffic for most of the race, Hamilton ended the last race before the summer break where he started.

Commenting on his emotions after the race, Hamilton told F1 TV that he endured a “pretty bad” experience at the Hungaroring. When asked for his mindset going into the summer break, the Stevenage-born driver stated: “Same as it was yesterday. I’m glad it’s over. I’m looking forward to going away.”

Asked for his reaction to Hamilton’s comments his former boss at Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, who worked with the Briton from 2013 to 2024,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.

Hamilton secured six of his seven world titles with Mercedes, whilst he achieved the first title with McLaren back in 2008. The 40-year-old came close to adding an eighth crown in 2021, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen snatched away the title in dramatic circumstances at the Abu Dhabi finale.

Despite his current issues in his new environment, Wolff stressed that Hamilton is "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.”

Pressed on to comment on the uncertainty revolving around Hamilton's future, Wolff stressed that the Briton needs to stay in Formula One as the sport will introduce an all-new technical regulation next year.

“Lewis has unfinished business in F1. 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.”

Pushed 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.”