Like a superhero, Toto Wolff has two identities. In the Formula 1 paddock, he is the Mercedes team principal leading the championship alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Away from racing, however, he is simply the father of three children.
His youngest son, Jack, has developed a passion for motorsport and competes in several karting championships, including the WSK series that has produced almost every current Formula 1 driver. “I love spending my free time with my family and eating pizza in the paddock,” Wolff said.
The third and final round of the WSK Euro Series is currently taking place at the Cremona Circuit, where the championship titles across the various categories will be decided. Young Jack Wolff is battling Zayne Burgess and Johan Berger—son of former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger—for the Mini U10 title. Watching from the grandstands, Toto celebrates and worries just like any other father.
Are you more nervous during Formula 1 races or Jack’s kart races?
“It’s incredible, but during the start of a Formula 1 Grand Prix my heart rate is around 90 to 95 beats per minute, while at kart races it reaches 150 to 155. I discovered that thanks to my watch. When my wife Susie and I found out that Jack wanted to become a racing driver, we weren’t exactly thrilled. Motorsport is a difficult and dangerous sport that demands an enormous amount of time and commitment. We can’t attend all of his races, but we decided to support him because his happiness comes before everything else. He completed a few tests and some small races, and this is his first season competing at a high level. Right now he’s absolutely thrilled because he finally claimed his first victory in the single-make Lame Series Italy Racing Formula championship, where he currently leads the Mini U10 standings. It’s a wonderful achievement.”
How did you celebrate?
“We were at Silverstone! I was busy with Mercedes, while Susie was working with the F1 Academy. During the Grand Prix I had my phone on my lap so I could follow Jack’s race. His victory was very emotional because we had been waiting for it for quite some time. He had already taken pole positions and podium finishes, but he was missing that final piece of the puzzle. Then Kimi’s wheel shield failed. At that moment my heart was split in two. In motorsport it’s not enough to be fast—you also need reliability to finish races without problems. This year we’ve suffered three technical failures, two with the championship leader in Barcelona and Silverstone, and one with George Russell in Canada. That’s too many. We still have plenty of room to improve in terms of reliability.”
What is it like going from the Silverstone paddock to the karting paddock in Cremona?
“I’ve always lived my life around motorsport. Some people only follow Formula 1, but there’s an incredible world beyond it. Every day I keep up with the news and results from other racing categories. This is where the passion is born. Around 280 drivers from more than 50 countries will be racing here over these days, all chasing the same dream.”
Does your son have a good relationship with Kimi Antonelli?
“It’s fantastic. They’ve known each other for five years. Jack was only three when they first met, and he has always admired Kimi. Together with his father Marco, Kimi has given Jack tremendous support through his presence and kindness. They often come to watch his races, and that means a great deal to him.”
When you decided to promote Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for 2025, did you ever imagine he would become the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history?
“We knew he would need a year to settle in and develop because Formula 1 is a completely different world compared to the junior categories. He had to adapt to the car and learn how to manage sponsor commitments and media duties. The goal was always for him to make a significant step forward in his second season. And that’s exactly what he’s done, driving at an incredibly high level and delivering extraordinary results. Right now he’s exceeding even our most optimistic expectations, but he must not become complacent. Everyone is praising him, while I always ask people to stay balanced. We can’t compare him to Ayrton Senna, who won three world championships and remains one of the most iconic drivers in Formula 1 history. Kimi has won five races—let him continue to grow.”
When did you realize he had something special?
“When he was nine or ten years old, he was already winning races and championships in karting. That’s when we started monitoring him, and in 2019 he officially joined the Mercedes Junior Team. But if he has reached this level, a lot of the credit also belongs to his family. His father is a former racing driver and the owner of AKM and Antonelli Motorsport, so he was able to give him excellent guidance.”
This year you also brought another young Italian into your junior programme: Niccolò Perico. What impressed you about him?
“We’re always focused on the future. Our junior programme includes only a handful of drivers with outstanding potential, and he’s certainly one of them. For Jack, he’s almost like an older brother. We know his parents very well. His father is a bit crazy—just like me—so we get along perfectly. But we must remember that we’re talking about a very young boy. Let’s not put too much pressure on him.”
After nine Grands Prix, Lewis Hamilton is only 32 points behind the championship leader. Do you see him as a genuine title threat?
“I’ve never had any doubts about him. We all know he’s a great champion. He simply needed the right car, and Ferrari has given him exactly that. Now he has everything he needs to fight for race wins and also for the world championship.”
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