Wolff and Vasseur joke amid Hamilton move: “It’s like an amicable divorce”, “Then you have to pay alimony”. Toto Wolff and Fred Vasseur joked about Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari.

Like an ex
Toto Wolff had used a sentimental metaphor to describe the first photos of Lewis Hamilton as a Ferrari driver, saying he felt like an ex-boyfriend forced to see pictures of his former partner with their new companion. A remark that perfectly captures the impact Lewis Hamilton’s switch has had on Mercedes and the entire F1 paddock.

But this comment from the Austrian manager also led to a humorous exchange between him and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur on the London red carpet, just before the opening celebration of the 2025 season at the O2 Arena last Tuesday.

Back-and-forth
The two, longtime friends, were involved in a lighthearted back-and-forth during a joint interview with the BBC. The topic, of course, was Lewis Hamilton: “Now the headache is Fred’s,” Wolff joked. “It’s like when there’s an amicable divorce—you stay friends, but when you see her for the first time with the new partner…”

At that point, Fred Vasseur jumped in with a playful remark, suggesting that—following the marriage analogy— Toto Wolff should be paying alimony to Lewis Hamilton: “You have to pay alimony, right? That’s what happens when you divorce!” Wolff’s amused response was immediate: “No, now he’s remarried—it’s your problem now! We obviously know that [Hamilton] has known Fred for a long time, he’s already raced for him—it’s your issue now!” the Mercedes team principal concluded with a smile.