Toto Wolff claims people are “adding one plus one and making three” with rumours linking him to Aston Martin.
The Austrian’s future as Mercedes motorsport boss has been called into question in recent weeks after it emerged technical director James Allison, not Wolff, represented the team in talks over Formula 1’s response to the coronavirus.
Then, ex-F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone, who is always well connected on such matters, gave his backing to the idea of Wolff becoming CEO at Aston.
But despite this being the final year of his current contract with Mercedes, Toto made it clear he is keen to continue.
“I’m in the eighth year now, I love sports and this team,” he told the Osterreich newspaper.
“However, I am somewhat surprised by the turn of events over the winter and by the behaviour of individual people.
“Of course, this also has to do with my decision on what to do in 2020 and beyond, but I am and will remain the head of Mercedes Motorsport and F1 boss, and nothing will change in the short term.
“What is my current status? My participation in Mercedes is solid, my contract runs until the end of 2020, and we are still in good discussions about what we want to do together,” he added.
“We are discussing, but all of this has been pushed into the background by Corona. We all have bigger problems to solve now – human problems in our companies.”
Wolff also dismissed the main reason why he is being linked to Aston Martin, his association with Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll, who recently secured an investment deal into the famous British brand, becoming executive chairman in the process.
“Stroll and his team are a big customer of our racing team, they purchase engines, gearboxes and suspension parts from Mercedes,” he claimed.
“In addition, Lawrence has been a good friend of mine for many years – regardless of our business relationships.
“I’m not going to become CEO of Aston Martin, and I’m not going to make a strategic investment there either. People are adding up one plus one and turning it into three.”
Also Read:
- Ecclestone tells Mercedes: Sell F1 team at the end of 2020
- Stroll: Aston Martin project ‘great in many ways’ for Racing Point
- Stroll keen to establish Aston Martin as a top team in F1
Another underlying question though regards the relationship between Wolff and Daimler CEO Ola Kallenius, which has always been under the microscope since the latter took over from Deiter Zetsche last year.
And while publicly, the Austrian is flat out denying any rumours of his departure, privately it could be different.
“I have heard from my network that hairline cracks are developing at Mercedes,” former F1 driver Christijan Albers reportedly told De Telegraaf.
“Despite the great performance of the Mercedes team, there are rumours of tension between Wolff and the leadership of Mercedes and the parent company Daimler.”
Probably just the Dutch media trying to stir the pot, but while ever there’s uncertainty you never know.
