Toto Wolff’s job is in jeopardy after Lewis Hamilton’s defeat at the Abu Dhabi GP, according to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Mercedes suffered a harrowing defeat during the 2021 season finale, where Hamilton was robbed of an eighth world title under controversial circumstances. Mercedes won the Constructors’ Championship thanks to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, but they will be feeling hard done at not winning a championship double.
Wolff is the leader of the Mercedes team, and has overseen a stellar period of success. He had a motorsport career before his stint as team principal, when he was involved in endurance racing, rallying and GT competitions,
The Austrian then switched to the management side of the sport, having bought shares in Williams in 2009. In 2013, he left the team to join Mercedes, and has been virtually untouchable in there, until now.
According to Ecclestone, Wolff’s job is in jeopardy after Hamilton’s defeat at the Abu Dhabi GP, saying that the team’s failure to win might just change things.
“I don’t know whether Toto Wolff, with a third of the team shares, is still in the same strong position as before,” the 91-year-old told Swiss outlet Blick.
“But we will find out at some point.”
Don’t think he will be back
Ecclestone also gave his take on Hamilton’s retirement, and said that he is not sure if he would stay in F1.
“I don’t think he’s coming back. His disappointment is too big. And you can somehow understand it,” he said.
“Now it would be time to tackle his dream of becoming a fashion entrepreneur with seven world titles like Michael Schumacher.”
Read more: Wolff opens up on prospect of FIA doing a “backroom settlement” with teams for Abu Dhabi GP