Toto Wolff wary of Lewis Hamilton ‘smelling blood’ in title race

Toto Wolff is wary of going up against Lewis Hamilton in a title race, knowing what his former driver is like when he “smells blood”.

Hamilton closed to within 41 points of Mercedes’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli by clinching his first victory as a Ferrari driver at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Antonelli’s late engine failure, having just overtaken team-mate George Russell, has blown the title race wide open again after the Italian had won the previous five races in succession.

Mercedes’ dominance of the 2026 season was snapped by Hamilton’s victory and breathed life into Ferrari’s potential charge, with the Scuderia’s first win since Mexico City in 2024.

Wolff, who oversaw six of Hamilton’s seven world championships during a glittering 12-year spell at Mercedes, is all too aware of the threat his former charge poses to Antonelli and Russell.

“I’d rather not fight with him for a title. Because I know what he’s capable of. If he smells blood, he goes,” Mercedes boss Wolff said.

“I’ve seen it many years where suddenly the Lewis Hamilton train started to go and then it’s very difficult to stop it.

“What is it, 41 points? You see a DNF robs you of 25 points and it’s wide open.”

Hamilton’s shock switch to Ferrari from Mercedes ahead of last season came with much fanfare but the 41-year-old – whose victory made him the oldest F1 winner since Jack Brabham in 1970 – endured a difficult debut campaign with the Scuderia.

“He’s worked so hard and has gone through so many difficult moments, particularly last year, that wholeheartedly I’m happy for him that he’s won,” Wolff added.

“I always say, if it’s not our two to win, then it should be Lewis.”

Hamilton said winning in Ferrari red was “beyond his wildest dreams” but