Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, gave an interesting interview to Auto Motor and Sport
Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, gave an interesting interview to Auto Motor and Sport, touching on various topics. From Verstappen to Hamilton, as well as the just-concluded season. 2025 will be a transitional year for Mercedes, but the competitive spirit remains unchanged.
The team principal of the German team expressed his opinion on Max Verstappen, confirming that there has been an open dialogue between the two parties, though nothing concrete came of it, but an attempt was made. Wolff’s words were: “There was never a plan, but we always discussed and kept the dialogue open. However, he then decided to stay where he was, because from his point of view, it was the right thing to do. I said we would focus on Kimi, as it seemed like the right choice. We’ll see where it takes us.”
From Verstappen to Lewis Hamilton, Wolff shared his thoughts on the seven-time world champion and his difficulty adapting to the new generation of cars. These were his words: “Lewis is too serious and focused to be distracted. However, this generation of cars doesn’t suit his style. He has an aggressive approach, with late braking and a decisive entry into corners, but the car and tire behavior don’t forgive these characteristics. When he has a competitive car, Hamilton is always at his best. Unfortunately, this year we weren’t able to give him what he needed to perform at his best.”
Toto Wolff then added: “With all his experience, Alonso continues to drive competitive cars. The situation is similar for Lewis. We’re talking about a driver who, with the right car, can still give a lot to Formula 1 and the team that hosts him. I have no doubt about this.”
Regarding the 2024 season, he said: “We were very close to exceeding the spending cap for the 2024 season. If you spend too much at the start of the year, you’re forced to save towards the end. We had to give up some upgrades because there weren’t enough funds to produce the parts. Today, Formula 1 is truly profitable. The profit margin is between 30 and 35% before taxes. A result that even compensates for engine costs. The old cliché of burning money in this sport belongs to the past.”
