F1 Racing - UK (2020-01)

F1 RACING JANUARY 2020 33

How has Mercedes not onlyconsecutive driversno signs of stopping? Team boss Toto Wolff has an answer.and constructorsust set a new record of sixt tles but also s hows

scepticismactually good enough.”“The mindset we have” Wolff says“whether what we are doing isn this team is permanent

starting pointmachine Mercedes has becomeOf coursethere is a lot more to it than thatas a simple concept to explain the winningit does afi ne jo b.but as a

reinvention and an endless quest for better are at the heartof WolffThat approach starts from the top – restlessnesss character – but Wolff would never say it is down

teamstaff members who have made Mercedes arguably the bestto h“If I were to sum it upm. He is always qun Formula 1 history.ck to give credit to the 1” he says“it s the people000-plusthe group

of people workthe best game in their respective position. And the strengthsof the pack have made us wng on the projectn hese champeach givng it allonships.”play ng

link with the team Mercedes surpassed this year – Ferrariwinners ofThere is anfi ve titl e doubles innteresting paralel herehe early 2000s.and it s to do wth a

the most successful team boss in the history of Formula 1for allof the team over the past seven years. But the foundationsWolff fully deserves the title he has earned hnvolved have nothing but praise for his leadershipmself as

of Mercedesprede cessor Ross Brawnseasona year asuccess were later the Austrwho left at the end of the 2013d under another boss – Wolffan took on his initial roles

as executive dcentral to FerrariBrawn is also the man whorector.s earlier domas technical directornationw th team boss Jeanwas

Todtthe other keychief designer Rory Byrne and Michael Schumacher asfi gures. Similar resultsbut Brawn points out

Mercedes’What issecret?

WORDSPORTRAITSTUART CODLINGSTEVE ETHERINGTON

LEWIS HAMILTON

IN CONVERSATION WITH

41 F1 RACINGJANUARY 2020

Lewis Hamilton has played arunto six consecutive world championship doubles. In thiskey part in Mercedes’extraordinary

exclusive chat withsuch a specialteam, how the group is empoweredF1Racing,Lewisexplains what makes thisto flourish,

andtherole he performs as the “rudder” of the ship

“HE [TPROBABLY ONE OF THEOTO] AND I ARE

THERE HASBESTPARTNERSHIPSEVER BEEN

IN FORMULA 1. IT’S GOINGTO BE HARDFOR ANYONE

TO BEAT THAT”

Toto WolffthroughMercedes has hadal these yeahas been a consWhats of successis it about histant

management stylebestthe team?in you andalsothat bn the rest ofringsout the

Ive had the prToto s nce 2013 – he joined Mercedesnot long afte r me. What wealways havevilege ofwo rking wth

to remember is that theteam is buguys I work with have beenlt over t me. A lot of thesuccess of thehere for

15-odd years.have been thereMany ofth e people20 years.inthe factoryIt s been a

long campaign[Brawn] waspart of the initthere beforefor many of them. Rossal shift – as was Norbertand he was

[Haug]the changes. And then Toto came in andput even more energy into that wave– withMercedestrying to make

and made it far greater.personable. He understandsWhereToto is great is that hestructures very

and strategywe a l have a unique element wus. It s aboutright environment to beand heunderstands thatpu ting people n theable tothin

Àourish and becares about those peopleHe s a whizzatkno wing – hegreat.about how

they re doing at homeanythingThe amount of work he putshecan do to support them.whether thereinto creates

the right environmentlittle thi ngs like theso that people areenergised.light ng inthe oɤceeven down to

best partnershin F1. We understand each otherHe and I are probablyps there hasone of theever been– the

relationshipthe communication has

been key. Weopen w th each other.overcome whatever obstacles weve always beenWeve always100%ve

faced. Itto beat that.s goingto be hard for anyone

You’ve often sa d th at thspecand enables it to carry onal What makesit th at ways team isbeing

so successful even whenregulations change?Its a case of putting peopletheinthe

right posbest where their real talenthave been there for yearstions to do what they doothers haves. Some

come inanda great team.My roles to encourage andbeen greatadditions toto

continue to bring in posthe teamthe engineers to steer developments intohelp be thetive energyrudder helpingfor

the r ght direction. Simulatcalculate that youperfect carbut in fact thereve come up withons mights neverthe

a perfect car. A computer-simulateddr ver works differentlytothe real

thing and cant feel certain thare key to advancing the car.So a lo t of the guys have been therengs that

a long time. But every yeargunn ng for it– they re super-excenthusastic and determined to winthey reted

aga n. It inspires me and Ithey see thatit works both ways.thi nk when

You talk about ‘ra s ng the bar’those are very easyyou’ve actualy donewords to sayt year on year asandbut

new challenges come upfind that extra level?The keything is belief. ThatWhere dohas neveryou

shifted. As I growwhat s around melook ng at how I can utiliseolder and I observeIm constantlymy

surroundmy performance.How can I improve my performancengs to help advance

as an athleteenergyhow canhow can , be more eɤcI be more consistent throughhow can I have moreent

and my engineers? I think overthe confidence betweenthe seasonhow canI extract more from the tyres– make feweryou and themistakes –the time

eng neers grows.And I also haveIf I say somehing they believe me.he mentality that I

don t take this positionYes I have these world tfully awarethat there s a youngster justfor gran ted.tles but Im

wait ng for me to eitherperformance to drop. Iyear every race I have to own it.slip or for myfeel like everyI have

to deliver every sOur thanks to Monster Energy forngle time.

facil tating this interview

32 F1 RA CING JANUARY 2020

SIX

buthas nowManyfor most that pre-eminence isteams hawon sixve achieved dominance inconsecutive title doubles againstfl eeting. MercedesFormula 1,a

background of changes introduced to disrupt.became F1’s highestfl yerandgreatest everHas it nowteam?

MACHINE

P CTURESWORDSANDREW BENSONMERCEDES AND

50 F1 RACING JANU ARY 2020 F1 RACINGJANU ARY 2020 51

WORDSBEN ANDERSONPCTURES

THE LEADER OFUnderToto Wolff’sstewardship MercedesTHE PACK

has enjoyed unprecedented success.Not bad considering he’d never run an

organisation of this size before... In thisexclusive interview he reveals the working

culture behind theextent of his own commitmentteam’s success, theto the

cause, and why he doesn’t like talkingabout ‘management style’

F1 RACING JANUARY 20 2061

Think you know everything about thechampionship-winning Mercedes W10?

Think again. The car pictured here is not whatit seems – and demonstrates the depth and

confidence that makes Mercedes a serial winner.WORDSPICTURSTUART CODLINGS

At first glance you may thMercedes W10. ,tAnd yet it played a fundamental role in Mercedess not. This car never raced. ,ts own designers barely remember signing it off.nk the car pctured on this pagesixth consecutive driverss the 201 championship-winningand constructors

title doubles. Such is the way of modern Formula 1.

THE WINNING CAR

THAT NEVERRACED

F1 RACING JANUARY 2020 3

IGNITION

What is it that

makes Mercedes

a serial winner?

PARADES

The best images

from Brazil and

Abu Dhabi

F1INSIDER

Lewis reveals

the secrets of

his craft

F1ANALYST

Edd Straw on

F1’s problem with

‘social mobility’

UNDER

THEHOOD

Pat Symonds on

the back storyto

2021’s new rules

SUBSCRIBE

Try the ultimate

F1 Racingoffer

INBOX

What’s on your

mind this month

DEBRIEF

Brazil and Abu

Dhabi reports

TRAVELGUIDE

Visiting the

Belgian GP

PRODUCTS

Reviews of the

best F1gear

FLATCHAT

StuartCodling on

thoseLewisto

Ferrari rumours

CONTENTS

JANUARY

SECTOR

THEGREATESTTEAMEVER?

Can Mercedes now claimto be

the bestteam in F1 history?

INCONVERSATIONWITH

2019 championLewis Hamilton

BRIXWORTH

Behind the scenes at Mercedes’

amazing engine facility

INCONVERSATIONWITH

2019 runner-upValtteri Bottas

MANAGEMENTMARVEL

Toto Wolff on the culture that

underpins Mercedes’ triumphs

GOFIGURE

Mercedes’ success in numbers

HERE’SONEWEMADEEARLIER

The Mercedes W10 that never

raced but was crucialto glory

MOTORSPORTSHOWCASE

The legendof theSilver Arrows

NIGELROEBUCK

Phil Hill, the first Americanto win

the world championship

FROMZEROTO HERO

Alex Albon’s meteoric rise from

nowhereto 2020Red Bull driver

F1 RACINGAWARDS

You voted in your thousands

and here we reveal the winners

SECTOR

SECTOR

F1RACINGPRO

1 ETON STREET, RICHMOND,

LONDON, TW9 1AG, UK

40

A CHAT WITH

LEWIS

HAMILTON

50

TOTOWOLFF:

HOW HE

KEEPS

MERCEDES

ONTOP

THE

MERCEDES

W10:WILL

YOU RACEIT?

NOYOU

WON’T

32

COVER

STORY: HOW

MERCEDES

SCALED

UNRIVALLED

HEIGHTS

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58

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RACING

No 287UK £5January 202099

HOWMERCEDES

BECAME F1’S

HIGHESTFLYER

+

WE HAND OUTYOURF1 RACINGAWARDS

THEINCREDIBLEOFTH E2019F1 CARTALE

THAT NEVERRACED

TWOFOR ONE

SILVER ARROWS SPECIAL!

THE WINGS OF GLORY

LEWIS HAMILTHEY’RE DETERMINEDTON“EVERYYEARTO

WIN AGAIN.ITI NSPIRES ME”

TOTOWOLFFTHANATHOUSAND“I’VE SEEN MORE

COMPANIESABOUT THE PEOPLE”–IT’SALL

ISTHIS F1’SGREATEST-EVERTEAM?

THE VOTES ARE IN!

STRAIGHTTALK

Is F1 headingfor an engine crisis?

PROFILE

Alejandro Soberón, promoter of

the Mexican Grand Prix

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RACING