In the Mercedes hospitality room reserved for Toto Wolff, there’s a constant back and forth of people, ranging from marketing discussions to technical matters, from talks about drivers to evaluations of the Chinese media market. Wolff wears a watch produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces (dedicated to him) by the team’s long-time sponsor. When he notices that the object has caught our attention, he takes it off and violently throws it against the floor. “It withstands 30,000 Gs,” he says, smiling. “It’s a Shock Absorber, that’s why they dedicated it to me!”
Toto Wolff has been at the helm of Mercedes since January 2013. The current season is his 13th as team principal and shareholder of the team. It’s said that this role is as demanding as no other within the paddock, but Toto doesn’t seem to feel the weight of the years. He doesn’t give up, that much is certain (and he reaffirms it), in fact, he is more focused than ever on 2026, the season when Mercedes hopes to regain the leading role they’ve been missing for over three years.
For this reason, Toto Wolff doesn’t want to hear talk of second thoughts regarding the power unit. He has meticulously planned his comeback, leaving no stone unturned. Soon, George Russell’s renewal will be announced, solidifying him as the long-term cornerstone, while they wait for Andrea Kimi Antonelli to join with consistency. Kimi is his bet, shared but strongly supported. The current car has given some extra hope in terms of short-term results, but it’s on 2026 that Wolff is ready to bet everything. “And they won’t be bad cars,” he emphasizes. Of course, provided they are winning. Here is the Mercedes team principal’s full interview for Motorsport Italy.
The V10 issue. How is it possible that the idea of switching to an atmospheric engine has resurfaced nine months before the debut of the new generation of power units?
“Probably, someone is afraid that they haven’t achieved the competitiveness they were hoping for, and this happened in 2014 too. Now that we’re nearing the perfection of the engines we will use next year, I think some are afraid of not having a good product, which is why suddenly the idea of the V10 emerges; it’s a targeted move. But that said, as Mercedes, we’re always open to discussing these matters.”
What is the engine of the future?
“Is it a V8? A V10? What type of hybrid system should be adopted? Sustainable fuel is clearly a key point for us, whether it’s a naturally aspirated engine or a turbo, we will accept any challenge that comes our way, as long as there’s proper governance to carry out the right decision-making process. Let’s sit down at a table, have the conversation, and let all the engine manufacturers bring their ideas, and then we’ll decide what we want after 2030.”
However, there are persistent rumors regarding a reduction to only three seasons for the next power units’ life cycle, before moving to a new engine in 2029. Is this a scenario that could work for Mercedes?
“There’s a risk of making the sport seem unreliable. We’ve attracted the interest of companies like Audi, we’re about to launch a new generation of power units with sustainable fuels, and then suddenly, the idea of reducing the use of this engine to just three seasons instead of the five years the regulations foresee comes up. I believe Formula 1 must be a stable and reliable partner, capable of defining and respecting the regulations. If, before the new power units even hit the track, people start talking about bringing in a new engine, well, it risks making us look unreliable. I’m convinced these decisions must be made with a long-term view, considering the benefits to the sport, not just a single season’s scenario. There must be a long-term plan, and everyone must be rowing in the same direction.”
Are you satisfied with the agreements reached in the new Concorde Agreement?
“I think it’s a great success for Formula 1. We’ve found a shared vision until 2030, all 11 teams have signed, including Cadillac. They’ve expressed their position very clearly, talking to the other teams, and they’re convinced they can add something to the world of Formula 1. So, yes, we’re 11 teams now, and we have a commercial plan, it’s a very positive step.”
Let’s talk about George Russell’s future. It’s one of the hot topics because in the top teams’ market, he’s basically the only driver with an expiring contract. What are the intentions? Will there be decisions soon?
“Yes, absolutely, I mean, it’s almost a secret… how do you say? An open secret? We intend to confirm our drivers for the long term, things are moving in the right direction.”
The question mainly refers to the cyclical rumors suggesting that there might be room for Verstappen. They will probably end once you announce Russell’s renewal…
“Yes, exactly, but in a contract, it’s not just about deciding that a driver will drive a car, there are also other aspects to discuss, in the interest of both the team and the driver. It’s a structured process and takes a bit of time.”
Why is Russell underrated in the paddock?
“Not by us, for sure. He’s a top driver, and we’re lucky to have him in the team. The decision to bring Kimi into the team also came because we knew we had George as a reference point. We knew he would tell us where the car was, and of course, he’s the benchmark for Kimi.”
Can we say that George wasn’t particularly lucky coming to Mercedes in 2022, just when the team stopped winning?
“Exactly, we expected something different. But we’ve been able to see George’s value in the comparison with Lewis, and we’re clearly talking about a top-level driver.”
Now that Andrea Kimi Antonelli is a full-time driver, can you confirm if the rumor is true that you decided to bet on him the moment Lewis left your office after informing you of his move to Ferrari…
“Absolutely. With all due respect for the 12 years we spent together and for the friendship and success we had with Lewis, as soon as he told me his intentions, I immediately thought about who the next driver would be. There are two schools of thought in these cases: you take a risk, betting on a young driver you believe can be up to the task, or you make a more conservative choice, go to the market, and take the best available driver.”
“There’s also another aspect that weighed in the decision. Putting Kimi in another team for experience, like Williams, would have meant letting him go for at least two seasons, and I didn’t want to commit to that long. Moreover, even if we had found a team willing to take Kimi for just one season, what motivation would a driver have to come to Mercedes for just one year? These were the thoughts in the minutes after Lewis left my office.”
How many people were involved in the decision to bet on Antonelli?
“Obviously, Ola Kallenius (CEO of Daimler), Markus (Schäfer, member of the Mercedes board), and then the working group, Gwen (Lagrue, head of the Mercedes junior program), James Allison, and Bradley Lord. And of course, me. As much as I may have a firm vision, I always want it to be challenged, and it was a very interesting discussion with the pros and cons.”
Did you have any second thoughts when Antonelli’s 2024 F2 season wasn’t going exactly as planned?
“No, F3 and F2 are complex categories, you need to be in the right team at the right time. We never had doubts about Kimi’s speed, personality, and values. We know he needs time; his growth process has been very rapid. I’ve always been convinced that 2025 is the right time for him to make the leap, as next season the technical regulations will change, and we want him to arrive at that moment with a year of experience behind him.”
Regarding the cars we’ll see on track next year, there are contrasting opinions in the paddock. Some fear it will be very difficult to explain to the public all the new systems, especially the battery recovery methods that will cause the cars to slow down at various points on the track. Do you think it will really be a step forward for F1?
“People won’t notice any difference. We’ll have innovative aerodynamic solutions, but contrary to what people believe, charging at the end of the straights exists even today. A Formula 1 car doesn’t accelerate all the way to the end of the straights, we have a speed chart that flattens out at the end of the straights, which is very different from what happened 10 years ago. I believe it will be the same in the coming years. Today, there’s a lot of alarmism about how the new power units will work, but Formula 1 has always found the right solutions, so I have no doubt it will be just as spectacular as always.”
Let’s talk about your current car. Based on what you’ve seen in the first two races, has it delivered the progress you were aiming for at the end of 2024?
“It’s a more stable platform. Last year, the rear was our weak point, and the front was our strength. Now, they go hand in hand, but we’re still not happy with the width of the working window, we want it to be a bit wider. Right now, it’s still difficult to find the correct stability, we still go from being leaders in one session to sixth place in the next, but we must also say that it’s happening to many other teams, and it might be like this all year.”
When the rumor surfaced that Susie Wolff might run for the FIA presidency, some thought you were preparing for retirement! Then it turned out the news was unfounded…
“Me retiring? Why not? Just kidding, not yet, maybe one day when Jack (Wolff’s son) starts taking things seriously in the junior categories, who knows. Regarding Susie, nothing happened. We’re an entrepreneurial family, she’s focused on the growth of the F1 Academy, and I don’t think she aims for a representative role, as honorable as the FIA presidency might be.”
You’re a big motorsport fan. We’ll lose the Spa weekend for two years; do you think it’s a natural market development, or should we work harder to preserve some of F1’s historic venues?
“I feel in good hands because Stefano (Domenicali) understands the sport’s significance well, he has an apartment overlooking the Monza circuit, and there’s no need to explain anything to him. At the same time, today we’re asked to go to new places to make Formula 1 popular in other regions of the world. It’s a balance, a mix between new locations and protecting the historic venues, and Stefano is clearly the best at finding that balance.”
How did you react to the news of Stefano’s renewal for another five years at the helm of Formula 1 Group?
“It was very important news. He’s a great person, with all the right values, a good business sense, excellent with promoters, and doesn’t take nonsense. The stability that his continued presence provides for another five years is really good news. The sport needs stability and clear direction, and he’s providing that.”
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