Wolff not planning to step down: 'Don't see suitable successor yet'

Toto Wolff has no plans to step down or even step down from his leadership role at Mercedes' Formula One team in the near future. At the same time, he also does not want to stay on as team boss if he feels he is past his prime.

Wolff, who, in addition to being team boss and CEO of Mercedes' F1 team, also has an overarching role as head of Mercedes' motorsport programmes, believes he has not yet reached the point where he should step down. Moreover, he has yet to see an adequate successor.

"I still think that I can contribute to the team in my area of expertise," he is quoted as saying by PlanetF1.com. "That is, I think, keeping it together, although I’m very emotional sometimes. But they know me so well, that I have these difficult moments on Sunday night."

"No, I can contribute. Unfortunately, I haven’t found someone who I would say I think that person has more energy, more drive, more skill – all of these factors that I believe are important to be the team principal and CEO," Wolff added.

The 51-year-old Austrian says he is looking at the situation from the perspective of the next 20 years and still wants to compete for championships. Nevertheless, he says he would be willing to step down if it turns out he has had his best time.

"Whenever I feel the moment is time that we change the leadership, I wouldn’t mind whether it’s good or bad," he continued. "This is my thinking, I’m not going anywhere. I hope that we’re winning many, many more, but I don’t feel any entitlement."

Even if it is eventually time for new leadership, Wolff plans to stay involved with the team. "There might be different leadership, you know, on the day-to-day, but it doesn’t mean that I’m not involved anymore," the Mercedes boss said.