Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is, without doubt, the best leader on the Formula 1 grid, Lewis Hamilton believes.
The Austrian has led the way at the Brackley-based team throughout their era of domination, which is now set to culminate in a seventh successive double championship in 2020.
But while he is one of the prominent figures in F1, Hamilton noted Wolff’s typically reserved nature within the team, something he says is part of what makes him, and Mercedes, so successful.
“We very rarely see him at the front there and he came and did an interview, so I thought that he was coming up [to the podium] – but I think whilst it would have been nice for him to be up there with us, I think that’s a real showing of a leader [that he didn’t],” Hamilton was quoted by GPFans.
“He’s not trying to be at the front of every photo. He’s not trying to claim anything. He puts the team first. I think that… without doubt, he is the best leader here.
“It doesn’t matter what anyone says, no-one has done as good a job as he has.”
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Wolff has already signalled he is set to at least partially hand over the reins at Mercedes after this year, with talks over a new contract and his future role still ongoing.
But as for what it is that makes Toto superior to the other team bosses, Hamilton explained: “I think it’s his mentality, the balance of drive, compassion, understanding and ego.
“All of them come together to create the best boss you could have. Every single person in the team, no-one’s below him, and he really cares about how everyone is doing: ‘how’re things away from the track?’, ‘how’s things at home with your family – is there anything we can do so you can be better at the office?’
“He’s a great guy and I feel privileged to have him as our leader. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without his guidance.”
