New Delhi, March 16 -- In February 2024, Toto Wolff faced a massive challenge when Lewis Hamilton announced that he'd be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the season.

The decision had huge implications, both financially and in terms of brand. Here was a driver who was not just a seven-time world champion but an icon who had helped the Silver Arrows return to the top by winning six drivers' and eight constructors' championships - a superstar who single-handedly had the power to draw thousands to the stands during any race weekend.

Experts predicted that Mercedes would need a big name to replace Hamilton. World champions Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel along with race winners like Carlos Sainz and Valtteri Botta...