Hamilton and Wolff formed one of the most successful driver-team partnerships in Formula 1 history during the Briton’s 11-year spell with Mercedes, winning six Drivers’ Championships and eight Constructors’ titles between them.
Their time together at Mercedes not only forged historic on-track success but also a deep friendship off it.
However, Wolff has now admitted that their personal closeness became a “problem” when it came time to discuss new contracts – a process both men reportedly came to “hate.”
“It always makes things more complicated when you negotiate with someone who is your ally,” Wolff told Formula.hu.
“Someone whose goals are very close to yours. Lewis and I – that was always a problem. We were best friends for two and a half years, we agreed 100 percent, we shared our private lives and everything.
Then came the two-month period of negotiations. We both hated it. Why? Because in that situation, you might not agree.”
Adding to the complexity was Hamilton’s decision to negotiate his own contracts, rather than using an agent, which meant prolonged and sometimes tense discussions with Wolff. Hamilton eventually brought in a professional management team in 2023, admitting that trying to handle both racing and negotiations had become “very stressful.”
To ease tensions and prevent friction, Wolff and Hamilton ultimately appointed an intermediary to handle negotiations – a move that helped streamline the process.
“Finally we changed and brought in someone who did this job, so the situation was resolved in a few days,” Wolff said.
While negotiations can be difficult with any driver, Wolff explained that it’s especially tough when working with someone emotionally invested in the process.
“That’s why it’s always going to be complicated with all the drivers. On one hand, you want to maintain a good relationship.
On the other, negotiations are sometimes tough – and it’s difficult when the other side is an emotional athlete, not someone who deals with this every day.”
Wolff Responds to Rosberg’s Claim He’s “Horrible” to Negotiate With
The topic of Wolff’s negotiation style also came under scrutiny recently when Nico Rosberg, former Mercedes driver and 2016 World Champion, described his ex-boss as “horrible to negotiate with,” claiming he would sometimes vanish during critical stages of contract talks.
Wolff denied being difficult, emphasizing instead his commitment to fairness and finding balance for both sides.
“No, I think I’m fair,” Wolff said.
“I think we should always put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. So I give my soul to the other side and think, If I were them, what would I want to achieve? Then I ask myself, What is fair in this situation? What would be the right thing to do?
“I consider that and try to find the right balance. But obviously, there are times when both parties want to optimize this and that, and that can make things complicated.”
Despite the behind-the-scenes friction, both Wolff and Hamilton have maintained their strong friendship – even after Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 – a testament to the mutual respect that carried their partnership through one of F1’s most dominant eras.
