Toto Wolff has dismissed suggestions that he could walk away from Mercedes after Kimi Antonelli sealed the Formula One world title. He said he still wants to lead the team, while admitting the job will eventually be divided among several people.
Motorsport.com reported that the 54-year-old Austrian was asked about his future during his media duties after the Mexico City Grand Prix, where the 20-year-old Antonelli clinched the championship.
The question referred to 2016, the last time Mercedes produced a first-time champion. On that occasion Nico Rosberg announced his retirement only days after winning the title.
Wolff said he asks himself every day whether he is still helping the team develop. If he ever felt he was falling short, or that someone else could do the job better, he would be the first to step aside and move into an executive chairman role.
Wolff took charge of the team in 2013. He said the sport has changed greatly since then, pointing to a 24-race calendar, the cost cap and heavy commercial demands. He described the old type of team principal, who handled sponsors, racing matters and political relationships with the FIA, FOM and rival teams alone, as belonging to a different era. He joked that he was beginning to feel like one of those "dinosaurs" himself.
The co-owner said he expects the leadership of Mercedes to be split across separate roles a few years from now.
For the moment, Wolff is handing more of his daily workload to Bradley Lord, whom Motorsport.com described as the team's long-time communications director. Wolff said Lord had taken many tasks off his hands and called him more diligent and better organised than himself.
Wolff was clear that his own departure is not imminent. "I don't plan to call it a day," he said.