Toto Wolff: Steering F1 Towards Humanistic Innovation

Toto Wolff blends his drive for humanity with the relentless pace of Formula 1’s innovations.

Toto Wolff, the director of Mercedes F1, has experienced numerous highs since joining the paddock but has also endured moments of pain and suffering.

During the summer break, speaking to RTBF, the Austrian reflected on his journey with Mercedes F1, which began strongly following his years with Williams.

“I certainly did not envision achieving such tremendous success with Mercedes. When I started, the team had just secured a fifth place,” he recalls.

“We set challenging targets and finished second in our first year, in 2013, winning three races. From 2014 onwards, we became dominant for eight years—a cycle unprecedented in F1 or any other sport.”

“It’s clear that maintaining this position is not easy. It’s our turn to suffer a bit now. There are always moments of doubt, and I believe that is healthy. We are continually questioning what we need to do to return to a winning position. For that, these moments are crucial. They demonstrate the team’s resilience. It’s a tough period for us, but we are gradually making a comeback. We’ve won three races this year. It’s not yet straightforward.”

Some have suggested that Mercedes F1’s resurgence should have come sooner to retain Lewis Hamilton. Wolff admits he will miss the Briton and explains why.

“We have been working together for a long time. It’s the longest collaboration between a driver and a team, lasting twelve years. The most impressive aspect is his daily strive for improvement, both as a driver and as a person. We constantly analyze what he can enhance. He is in continual development, a rare trait among adults.”

Hamilton has championed diversity in F1 and within his team. How does this manifest now?

“Not only do we aim to do good and provide opportunities to those who haven’t had such chances, but we are convinced that with more diversity, we will be stronger. The variety of cultures, opinions, perspectives, and perceptions gives us a means to achieve higher performance. We now offer the opportunity for truly strong individuals to join F1. We aimed to hire at least 25% of our staff from underrepresented backgrounds. We reached 38% in the first year. I looked at each person, and they were the strongest we could have.”

F1 remains a unique sport that must leverage human brilliance as well as its weaknesses and the sciences of performance. Wolff strives to balance these aspects optimally.

“At first glance, Formula 1 is about data and engineering. It’s easy to forget that there are people behind this. Data doesn’t make decisions; people do. If we can create an environment where people enjoy themselves and can engage with the objectives…”

“It’s crucial to understand what I can offer to an individual to perform at their best. I have a passion for humanity and for timekeeping. Times never lie. We will have a rule set from 2026 to 2030 with a new engine and sustainable fuel. It’s vital that F1 demonstrates that it is the world’s fastest laboratory. It will be exciting, perhaps in a different way. There might be other competitive teams.”