Toto Wolff plans to split Mercedes F1 leadership roles

Toto Wolff, the team principal and CEO of the Mercedes Formula 1 team, has announced plans to prepare for his eventual departure from day-to-day operations. Wolff, who has led the Brackley-based team since 2013 and holds a 33 percent ownership stake, stated in a recent podcast that his priority is to establish a stable structure that allows the team to function effectively without him.

Due to the breadth of his responsibilities—ranging from technical oversight and commercial negotiations to driver management—Wolff anticipates that his duties will be divided among two or three individuals. He noted that he is already monitoring potential successors who are performing well in their respective areas.

This transition follows a period where leadership duties were temporarily distributed among Bradley Lord and Jerome d’Ambrosio during Wolff’s recovery from knee surgery in 2023. Following d’Ambrosio’s move to Ferrari, internal competition for these future roles is expected to intensify. While Wolff may step back from active management, he indicated he might transition into a non-executive chairman or similar ownership-focused role to maintain stability.