194 replies to this topic

[peroa]

According to BILD.de
http://www.bild.de/s...75870.bild.html

How will that work out? Doesn't he own a substantial amount of Williams?

[Risil]

He also owns 49% of HWA, who run Mercedes's DTM, F3 and GT3 programmes.

I imagine Williams will need a new executive.

Edited by Risil, 20 January 2013 - 13:08.

[D.M.N.]

I wonder whether it could be Williams Mercedes in 2014 instead of Williams Renault? I note from here: http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/92843

The initial deal [with Renault] is for 2012 and 2013, with an option to continue when the new rules are introduced in 2014.

Of course with engines being higher priority in 2014, it will be interesting to see how this turns out.

[peroa]

I can hardly believe Frank or Mercedes will let Toto sit on two chairs.

[MP422]

Mercedes is making moves. Like what i'm seeing.

Edited by MP422, 20 January 2013 - 13:21.

[Francesc]

I can hardly believe Frank or Mercedes will let Toto sit on two chairs.

Indeed, that would be very strange.

I wonder what will happen with his shares at Williams. Will he sell them? If yes, to who??? I can't see him keeping them and at the same being Mercedes chef.

[Timstr11]

According to BILD.de
http://www.bild.de/s...75870.bild.html

How will that work out? Doesn't he own a substantial amount of Williams?

This is only about DTM I think.

Edited by Timstr11, 20 January 2013 - 13:29.

[Risil]

This is only about DTM I think.

Bild insists it'll include the Grand Prix team. I suppose you either have to trust them or not.

[peroa]

This is only about DTM I think.

I think this implies otherwise:

Fest steht: Wolff soll sich auch um das Formel-1-Team mit den beiden Fabriken in England kümmern und den gesamten Motorsport verantworten

He is supposed to take care of the F1 team too and will be responsible for all motorsport activities.

[olliek88]

Intriguing, if this is true i think Toto might of just burnt all his bridges at Williams.

Here's a translation using google so its a little crude but you get the gist of it.

According to information from BILD.de the Austrian Toto Wolff. (41) Successor of motorsport boss Norbert Haug (60) at Daimler The former racing driver was previously shareholder and chairman of the British racing team Williams.

Was head of motorsport for 22 years at Mercedes: Norbert Haug

After Niki Lauda (head of the Formula-1-Supervisory) Wolff is the second Austrian, who will now have the final say at Mercedes. Wolff is already tied in with Mercedes. He owns shares in the Mercedes DTM team HWA. Now he gets the right one as an investor in a Formula 1 team Mercedes.
According to information from the Austrian BILD.de should be presented in the coming days, possibly on the verge of DTM tests at Valencia (Tuesday to Thursday). One thing is certain: Wolff will also deal with the Formula 1 team with the two factories in the UK and responsible for the entire motorsports. Wolff is married with Scottish racer Susie Wolff (formerly Stoddart).

After 20 years, Wolff's predecessor Norbert Haug stepped down after the season as head of motorsport Mercedes. Reason: Lack of success. In three years, the Formula 1 Silver Arrows team managed only one victory (Nico Rosberg in China 2012), landed in fifth place last season the team standings.
Lewis Hamilton is committed as successor to Michael Schumacher one of the superstars of Formula 1. The Englishman is to be presented Monday at Mercedes in Stuttgart as a new team member.

Hamilton is getting presented tomorrow as well, its all go at Merc!

[Timstr11]

more here:
http://www.motorspor...n_13012003.html

Seems like he will also take an equity in the F1 team.
I hope Zetsche knows what he's doing. I have no clue about this Toto Wolff guy.

[Anja]

Damn, if it's true I'm afraid it could be a major blow for Williams. Wolff was doing a very good job there in my opinion.

[peroa]

Damn, if it's true I'm afraid it could be a major blow for Williams. Wolff was doing a very good job there in my opinion.

He was? What exactly was he doing there?
IMHO Frank will regret the day he let Parr go more than he can imagine...

[aditya-now]

He was? What exactly was he doing there?
IMHO Frank will regret the day he let Parr go more than he can imagine...

Yes, Adam Parr put together quite a good package. Toto Wolff is in the sport with larger ambitions than just to serve Williams GP.

[Latos]

Damn, if it's true I'm afraid it could be a major blow for Williams. Wolff was doing a very good job there in my opinion.

He just "sold" them Bottas, got money for it, now he's in Merc. Let's bet that now, his wife will become merc test driver...yea

[olliek88]

He was? What exactly was he doing there?
IMHO Frank will regret the day he let Parr go more than he can imagine...

From what has been said it hinted that Frank wasn't left with much of a choice. Bernie wanted Parr out of the sport and since he holds all the cards what Bernie says goes.

[silencer]

so, susie wolf will be 3rd driver?

[Francesc]

Damn, if it's true I'm afraid it could be a major blow for Williams. Wolff was doing a very good job there in my opinion.

As said by others, it was Parr who made all the changes and made the team profitable. If only he could comeback...

[jrg19]

so, susie wolf will be 3rd driver?

Just waiting for confirmation...

[SealTheDiffuser]

I still can remember when in 1998 my radio alarm clock woke me with a news guy saying that Daimler was merging with Chrysler. I dropped puzzled out of my bed not sure if I was dreaming.

Now I am nearly as puzzled. WTF???

[D.M.N.]

https://twitter.com/...008125097824256

Jennie Gow ‏@JennieGow
Just spoken to @MercedesAMGF1 who say "We would ask for your understanding that we do not comment on speculation." Re Toto Wolff story #f1
2:52 PM - 20 Jan 13

[Shiroo]

Soon when I will open fridge I will see there Toto Wolff. Why he has so many connections is beyond me

[SealTheDiffuser]

ahha and I remember some team quote that they would have a surprise 3rd driver. omg, Susie! this is ridiculous, Mercedes will take the BS meter to the next level.

[D.M.N.]

And over at Williams: https://twitter.com/...009208520081409

Jennie Gow ‏@JennieGow
Just spoken to @WilliamsF1Team and their official line is "No comment." So what do you reckon then...if its happened, good or bad move? #f1
2:56 PM - 20 Jan 13

[BackOnTop]

Toto recently said "although good for F1 & Fans/Media, he wouldn't be personally happy with Raikkonen's radio messages in his team" (even though victory was delivered)

So I am assuming he believes drivers shouldn't be different/strong personalities/colourful but tow the team line. Good for him... But I have a feeling he & Lewis won't be best of friends.

With Lewis, as all strong World Champs, having the upper hand over "what not to tell a Winner to do". He had enough of babying by Mclaren already.
And yes, Toto is an idiot for promoting his wife to a position that really should be hard-earned with a performance CV in a historical team.

Edited by BackOnTop, 20 January 2013 - 15:10.

[BackOnTop]

Soon when I will open fridge I will see there Toto Wolff. Why he has so many connections is beyond me

I guess Bernie likes Toto better than Parr. So here is one more in political individual who gets stronger thanks to personal dislikes about a working man. F1 is a funny place.

Maybe Mercedes will benefit thanks to his personal connections. So I guess it's good for Hamilton overall if Mercedes start getting subconcious preferential treatment as a team.

Edited by BackOnTop, 20 January 2013 - 15:20.

[Gfhuus]

https://twitter.com/...008125097824256

Jennie Gow ‏@JennieGow
Just spoken to @MercedesAMGF1 who say "We would ask for your understanding that we do not comment on speculation." Re Toto Wolff story #f1
2:52 PM - 20 Jan 13

And over at Williams: https://twitter.com/...009208520081409

Jennie Gow ‏@JennieGow
Just spoken to @WilliamsF1Team and their official line is "No comment." So what do you reckon then...if its happened, good or bad move? #f1
2:56 PM - 20 Jan 13

Neither of the teams denies this?

If this is true, I hope that Williams can handle management changes as well as Renault/Lotus did. The fact that they finally managed to build a good car again was one of the best things in 2012.

[olliek88]

The more i look into Toto's past the more i think that this isn't a surprise. You have to remember that when he and Williams started getting into bed together it was before Mercedes joined F1 as a works team. This is all conjecture but i think he genuinely wanted to get into F1 anyway but now Mercedes are around (with who he has lots of connections through part owning HWA and being deputy chairman) its a chance to be part of a potentially successful team, which Williams are far from, being realistic.

Toto knows his stuff, he was a reasonably talented driver who knows about racing and is a very successful investor, fair play to him.

[PayasYouRace]

What does a motorsport chef cook? Pasta Maldonado?

Relax I know it's just a bad translation. I'm more concerned with how this will affect Williams (if true). I can see why Sir Frank has always been reluctant to sell his team on. You can't trust anyone.

[Sakae]

Something is not adding up here; Haug's job was supposed to be either eliminated, or scaled down to something else.

[BoschKurve]

I bet Bottas will replace Rosberg in another year or two.

[olliek88]

Something is not adding up here; Haug's job was supposed to be either eliminated, or scaled down to something else.

Source?

[SnoWhite]

He arranged Kubica's test in the DTM and wants him back in F1- probably with Williams, so strange situation with Merc- unless Williams will be powered from 2014 by Mercedes engines? . Hard to believe.

Edited by SnoWhite, 20 January 2013 - 17:01.

[Les]

It certainly seems like he's cooking up something.

[Juan Kerr]

I can hardly believe Frank or Mercedes will let Toto sit on two chairs.

Ah so that'll be Suzie Stoddart straight into the reserve role at Mercedes then ha!

[gm914]

Ah so that'll be Suzie Stoddart straight into the reserve role at Mercedes then ha!

♫Oh Toto, won't you buy me.....♫

[TheUltimateWorrier]

It certainly seems like he's cooking up something.

Too many cooks spoil the broth

[Les]

Too many cooks spoil the broth

I wonder if he has the recipe for success at Mercedes?

[BoschKurve]

I wonder if he has the recipe for success at Mercedes?

If he wants to maintain the status quo of too many chefs in the kitchen at MGP, they'll continue their slide into obscurity.

But that aside, I wouldn't trust Wolff one bit.

I wonder how much advance notice Frank Williams had on this. It's sad to see a guy with as much intelligence as Frank backing the wrong people.

[marina]

http://uk.reuters.co...N0AP0GG20130120

Bild said on their website (www.bild.de) that the move could be announced at a DTM (German Touring Car) test at the Valencia track in eastern Spain starting on Tuesday.

[Les]

If he wants to maintain the status quo of too many chefs in the kitchen at MGP, they'll continue their slide into obscurity.

But that aside, I wouldn't trust Wolff one bit.

I wonder how much advance notice Frank Williams had on this. It's sad to see a guy with as much intelligence as Frank backing the wrong people.

Yeah leaving aside bad chef puns for a minute, I feel really sorry for Williams if true. It seems strange how it'll work since he's part owner of Williams but we'll find out in due course. Hopefully it'll work out better for Williams in the long run.

[Juan Kerr]

Since this sport became more money conscious and good for the global economy it has never been any worse for pay drivers, financial ownership's and other money orientated shenanigans.

[Red17]

Something is not adding up here; Haug's job was supposed to be either eliminated, or scaled down to something else.

Eliminate a scapegoat role? Not a chance.

Ethically this needs clarification, or else we will start having multi-team owners... oh wait.

But when you think about about a bit more about it it may be sign that Williams could change engines, there is the ongoing rumour of Mclaren producing their own units and the official Mercedes team has been discrete.

[D.M.N.]

Autosport report: http://www.autosport...t.php/id/105206

[TheUltimateWorrier]

Since this sport became more money conscious and good for the global economy it has never been any worse for pay drivers, financial ownership's and other money orientated shenanigans.

Surely you mean it's never been any better to be a pay driver?

[BoschKurve]

Yeah leaving aside bad chef puns for a minute, I feel really sorry for Williams if true. It seems strange how it'll work since he's part owner of Williams but we'll find out in due course. Hopefully it'll work out better for Williams in the long run.

If I'm Frank, one of my bigger concerns would be how long is Bottas going to even stay at Williams?

It seemed like a good long term plan for the team to have a young driver that may be the next best thing to hit F1, but we all know he was only in that seat because of Wolff's role at Williams. It was said in another topic relating to Williams that Frank actually wanted to retain Senna for 2013, but Wolff overrode him on that. Hindsight is 20/20, but if that was all true, then I think Frank got sandbagged because Bottas will just be at Williams to sharpen his ability before jumping to follow his master to MGP. I think Rosberg better start looking for a new team because I could see a Hamilton/Bottas pairing quite easily depending on what happens with MGP over the next few years as far as development and success on the track go.

[wrighty]

♫Oh Toto, won't you buy me.....♫

[nomi]

He was? What exactly was he doing there?
IMHO Frank will regret the day he let Parr go more than he can imagine...

+1

What did Toto do exactly?

[aditya-now]

If I'm Frank, one of my bigger concerns would be how long is Bottas going to even stay at Williams?

It seemed like a good long term plan for the team to have a young driver that may be the next best thing to hit F1, but we all know he was only in that seat because of Wolff's role at Williams. It was said in another topic relating to Williams that Frank actually wanted to retain Senna for 2013, but Wolff overrode him on that. Hindsight is 20/20, but if that was all true, then I think Frank got sandbagged because Bottas will just be at Williams to sharpen his ability before jumping to follow his master to MGP. I think Rosberg better start looking for a new team because I could see a Hamilton/Bottas pairing quite easily depending on what happens with MGP over the next few years as far as development and success on the track go.

Interesting statement, and I could imagine that Sir Frank wanted to keep Bruno. Now we will see how it all unfolds. The Austrian F1 mafia is at it again (and I say this as an Austrian ;-) )

[BoschKurve]

Interesting statement, and I could imagine that Sir Frank wanted to keep Bruno. Now we will see how it all unfolds. The Austrian F1 mafia is at it again (and I say this as an Austrian ;-) )

I really think there's some sort of endgame involved with MGP that we're not aware of. I'm waiting for press reports that Lauda and Hamilton are kicking back in Ibiza the way Lauda and Eddie Irvine did a decade ago while running Jaguar right into the ground.