Mercedes boss Toto Wolff accepts Ferrari would have blocked him to succeed Chase Carey as Formula 1 CEO from next year.
Last weekend, it was confirmed that Stefano Domenicali, a former team boss of the Scuderia ironically, would succeed the American, who’ll move to the role of non-executive chairman after three years in charge.
But when the first rumours of Carey leaving emerged, Wolff, who is out of contract at Mercedes after this year, was considered one of the early favourites to replace him
However, while the Austrian admits he was interested, he acknowledges his current position means others, and particularly Ferrari, would have objected.
“No. I didn’t,” Wolff said on if he actively sought to become F1 CEO. “I think everybody knows that there were some initial discussions with [Liberty Media CEO] Greg [Maffei], and it never went anywhere.
“We get on well, I respect Greg a lot for what he has achieved, but I love where I am, and I found out that I love the stopwatch so much, the competition and the racing, that where I am today, co-owner of the team with Mercedes, I have to pinch myself every single day.
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“At the end, it wouldn’t have gone anywhere anyway, because Ferrari wouldn’t have accepted that,” he added.
“That’s OK, they have this right. I respect it, absolutely. I would probably have had the same thoughts, but I think they have the best guy today. Stefano is just the real deal.”
Indeed, the Mercedes boss would speak highly of the decision to choose Domenicali, and is confident the Italian will maintain the DNA of F1 going forward.
“Stefano is, foremost, a man with a great personality, integrity, and knowledge of the sport,” Wolff said.
“He has been a sporting director, a team principal, he has gone through difficult times and through successful times, and has been involved in the Audi Formula 1 project for a while.
“In the end, he was the guy who led Lamborghini to tremendous performances, tremendous financial performances and honestly, the cars are great.
“I think he’s a very, very good choice for the role because he knows the sport inside out, I think sport comes first,” he claimed. “He’s going to stay away from, in my opinion, artificial things.
“He’s a purist, but equally understands that you need to keep your spectators and your audiences interested.
“That balance is really complicated to have right, and I think he will get that right.”