By Joe Man
Should Toto Wolf resign?
Toto Wolf and his arch enemy Christian Horner are statistically two of the most successful Formula 1 team principles of all time. Its interesting to compare their journeys and in more recent times their struggles. Horner of course is now gone and there is a case that maybe its time for Toto to step aside as well.
Toto joined mercedes in 2013 which was the last year of Horner led Red Bulls fourth constructors and drivers championship in a row. What followed was utter dominance. 7 straight drivers titles followed with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg with the mercedes streaking away from the field. The team had built a weapon and Toto could do no wrong.
Gradually though Red Bull started to become a force again firstly winning the odd race but then unleashing a young Max Verstappen who quickly became a thorn in their side.
As the set of regulations came to an end in 2021 both teams, drivers and team principles at Red Bull and Mercedes hit their peak performance at the same time bringing us possibly the greatest championship of all time.
Max and Red bull came out worthy winners but as we know the controversy that night in Abu Dhabi changed things forever.
Toto Wolff clearly went to a dark place along with his star driver after that and it didnt recover.
Having worked so hard to turn the season around and be on the brink of winning only for it to be taken away crushed them
2022 comes along with the new regulations and the Merc was a mess. It was porpoising down the straights and was barely drivable. Had the team and their principle taken their eye off the ball with the 2021 battle going on? It seems likely.
Meanwhile Red Bull nailed it and went on one of the great dominant runs winning another three straight championships with Max Verstappen.
Mercedes continued to chase their tails with occasional glimpses of a car that was quick but they would loose it just as fast. The car continues to this day to not be able to work in hot temperatures with no one on the design team being able to fix the issues.
Then in 2024 Lewis Hamilton drops the bombshell that he is leaving for Ferrari. Although it was always a dream of his he wouldn’t have left his merch family if he had any confidence in them. That was obviously long gone.
Toto was shocked by the move and left in the dark needing another driver.
He had the chance to sign Verstappen when he was young and missed out and it seemed to bug him.
Wolff’s judgement has been odd ever since that night in Abu Dhabi. Its like he ran the team with the goal of making right what happened and getting Hamilton his eighth crown. All of which backfired. Eventually he replaced Lewis with Kimi Antonelli who many believe to be the next generational talent. This decision felt like he was trying to get this new wondered before anyone else did. Time will tell on this one as its early days. Some performances for Kimi have been great others not so. Either way the car is still at times not drivable.
They have been very lucky to have had George Russel getting results the car hasn’t deserved.
Now midway through 2025 with Horner gone and the Red bull dynasty crumbling it would have been easy to assume mercedes would be back and ready for the top. But no!!
In have stepped McLaren as a customer team for mercedes engines and thrashed Mercedes the team. This is embarrassing for Wolff and his efforts to return the team to glory.
Ferrari and looking like surpassing them again and teams like Williams and Aston should be catching fast in 2026.
Now of course Toto has set his eye on bringing Max Verstappen to the team. Is this another desperate bid to get things back on track? Most teams would take Max if he is available but its disruptive to the team harmony for sure. Russel is driving the season of his life but has no contract for 2026. Even if Toto cant get Max, George now knows he would be replaced in a heartbeat and that cant feel good!!
2026 will be the telling point for Wolffs legacy. If the team go on to dominate the new regulations then he will go down as one of the great leaders. But if halfway through next year we are talking about another car that has no real direction or understanding then questions need to be raised.
As Wolff owns thirty percent of the team his position is secure. His position in history however is not so much.
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