F1 RACING JANUARY 2020 33How has Mercedesnot only just set a new record of six
consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles, but alsoshows
no signs of stopping?Team boss Toto Wolffhas an answer.
“The mindset we have inthis team is permanent
scepticism,” Wolff says, “whetherwhat we are doing is
actually good enough.”
Of course,there is a lot more to it than that,but as a
starting point, asa simpleconcept to explain the winning
machine Mercedes hasbecome, it does afi ne job.
That approachstarts from the top –restlessness,
reinventionand anendless quest for bett er are at the heart
of Wolff’s character – butWolff would never say itis down
to him. He is always quick to give creditto th e 1,000-plus
staff members who have made Mercedes arguably the best
team in Formula1 history.
“If I w ere to sum it up,” he says, “it’s the people,the group
of people workingon theproject, eachgivi ng it all, playing
the best game in theirrespective position.And the strengths
of the pack have made us win these championships.”
There is a n interesting parallel here,and it’s to do witha
link with the team Mercedes surpassed this year – Ferrari,
winners offi ve titl e doubles in the early2000s.
Wolff fullydeserves the titlehe has earned himselfas
the most successful team boss in the history ofFormula 1,
for all involved havenothing but praise for his leadership
of the team over the past seven years.But the foundations
of Mercedes’ success were laid under another boss –Wolff’s
predecessorRoss Braw n, who left at the endof the 201 3
season, a yearafter t he Austrian took onhis initial role
as executive director.
Brawn is also the man who, astec hnical director, was
central to Ferrari’s earlier domination, with team boss Jean
Todt, chief designer RoryByrne andMich ael Schumacher as
the other keyfi gures. Similarresults; butBra wn points out
What is
Mercedes’
secret?