Analysis | Why Toto Wolff is not under pressure internally at Mercedes
General
- Ludo van Denderen
The British press has been sharpening their knives for the past few days. Hit the tabloids and you will see a story somewhere about Toto Wolff's future at Mercedes - or rather how, according to the media, he should not be there. It fits with the culture of judgement in English sport: if a sports team does not perform, the head of the person in charge goes off. However in reality Toto Wolff, is still firmly in the saddle.
The German team boss could hardly believe it in Brazil. He had not seen his team perform this badly in years. George Russell had dropped back before he retired. Lewis Hamilton did make it to the finish line but played a supporting role. He scored just four hard-fought points.
Wolff the right man for Mercedes?
Mercedes sudden drop is what concerns fans and certainly the (British) media. Perhaps more importantly: how will the once-successful team get back on top? There is now loud noises from various quarters as to whether Toto Wolff is the right man to start the way up with. For instance, it is cited that Wolff likes to be the centre of celebrations when there are successes, while at times of malaise, he points the finger at others.
How different it would be at Red Bull Racing - Mercedes' big rival: once you put on the team's shirt there, team boss Christian Horner will always protect you, it is reported. Wolff, on the other hand, publicly puts your head on the chopping block. And that is precisely why there is media suspicion that the Austrian is not going to be the man to get everyone pointing in the right direction again.
There is no question of a Wolff departure
Yet there really will be no question of a Wolff departure for the time being, mainly because he is not just the team boss. It is Toto Wolff who built the team and is one of the major shareholders. He owns a third of the shares. Moreover, one swallow does not make a summer; for better or worse.
Mercedes' performance in Brazil was poor, but at the same time, the team are second in the constructors' championship, behind the unapproachable Red Bull. Lewis Hamilton is likely to finish third among drivers, which is an improvement on 2022. Let us also remember that change in Formula 1 takes time. It took Red Bull many years to step out of Mercedes' shadow. The roles have been reversed. That's sport. Not everyone can win. And if they can't, then just come second. Mercedes looks set to do just that.
D'Ambrosio not yet ready as replacement
There is no adequate replacement ready for Wolff internally at Mercedes either. Jerome D'Ambrosio has been brought in to eventually relieve the Austrian in 2023. Currently, the Belgian is the Motorsport Executive and Driver Development Director of the team, most recently even helming Mercedes for two Grands Prix himself. Wolff was missing then due to recovery surgery. One of those races was the Qatar Grand Prix, the infamous race in which Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collided.
The latter kept moaning about it for so long that Wolff had to come on the team radio from his living room in Monaco to call the Briton to order so much for the authority of D'Ambrosio, who apparently still needs to work on his superiority.
With estimated assets of €1.6 billion, Wolff is safe. You don't become a billionaire by always being friendly; you have to be a shrewd, sometimes tough businessman. That is the road to success. No doubt Wolff himself realises that he can come across as tough (sometimes blunt), but that is part of his winner's mentality. Being tough and outspoken now is his way of ensuring that the team will eventually be successful again with Wolff as team boss.