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Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff details his ten-month soul-searching period where he contemplated leaving Mercedes and Formula 1.
During the 2020 Formula 1 season Toto Wolff has been contemplating leaving Mercedes and Formula 1, before ultimately signing a new three-year contract.
The Austrian reveals it was a difficult period, that was somewhat sparked by the death of Mercedes’ non-executive chairman Niki Lauda.
“It was ten months that were very difficult for me,” Wolff said.
“Also mentally, I gave my all for almost eight years and felt exhausted to some extent. Also, my contract was coming to an end and I could have sell my shares.
“All of this led to an inner conflict: do I want to stay in Formula 1? Can I still contribute? Or can someone else do the job better?
“I spent almost a year thinking about it, although ‘thinking about it’ is still a pretty positive expression.
“It was a lot of soul-searching, also because of the pressure I felt. In the end, I chose Mercedes and Formula 1, I found my place here.”
Wolff reveals in the past he tried to keep the team motivated by removing trophies from factory windows at Mercedes’ Brackley HQ, but it was no longer enough for him.
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“It was no longer enough, for me, personally, during these 10 months of doubts. I still got out of it!
“But for all the staff, it’s good! Because these trophies are dangerous, they are relics of the past, they don’t count anymore. You should never rest on past successes.
“Personally, I only have two souvenirs. One is the Lauda-designed helmet that Lewis gave me after winning Monaco, shortly after Niki’s death in 2019.
“The other is the constructors’ world championship trophy. It has all the logos of past world champions and there’s still room for future world champions.
“I always place that trophy, that big cup in silver, with the side showing the blank plate in front, where it is not yet known who will be registered.
“To continue to motivate me and remind me: all that matters is what is yet to happen,” Wolff concluded.
