Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff Set to Reduce his Presence in F1 Paddock This Year

Last year, Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff missed the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend due to prior commitments. Now, the Austrian is set to continue the trend of missing races when the 2020 Formula 1 season eventually gets underway.

He can be forgiven because both Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles were wrapped up by then. So, Wolff skipped his first race since 2013 and elected to stay in Europe to “focus on other open topics”.

At that time, technical director James Allison took over as the team principal in Brazil. In 2020, Mercedes could thrust that responsibility on him once again.

“For 2020 I am the team principal at Mercedes, even if I may divide my time differently and not be at every race,” Wolff told Osterreich newspaper. “I want to do my part to ensure that Lewis Hamilton wins the seventh title.”

How does Mercedes tackle the shift in responsibility

Speaking to the Mercedes YouTube channel, Wolff revealed that one of the team’s strengths is organisation empowerment. In other words, if somebody had to be sidelined, the rest of the team picks up the slack.

Wolff, also revealed that he and Lewis Hamilton are constantly in touch during the lockdown period. He even insisted that the six-time World Champion is still as motivated and hungry as ever to make it seven world championships.

“He was used to travelling a lot but now there is a standstill for him too,” said Wolff. “But he knows how to use the situation positively. He will come back with even greater motivation than before and he assures me of that in every phone call.”

For the moment, Mercedes and the rest of the F1 paddock will be glad to learn that the 2020 season will soon be underway. The question is, will anyone stop Lewis Hamilton from clinching a 7th title?