As a former racing driver, Toto Wolff’s interest saw him invest in Williams F1, moving up to become Executive Director and seemingly being groomed as part of the succession plan for the team. However, at the start of the 2013 season, Wolff defected to Mercedes, taking control of the motorsport activities of the German manufacturer and becoming a shareholder in them as well.

Biography

Toto Wolff raced in some Austrian and German national formulae during the 1990s, with a highlight win in his class at the 1994 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Across the millennium, he continued to race in GT championships, before turning his attention to rallying. He became Vice-Chairman of the Austrian Rally Championship and found management to his liking.

Having invested in several high tech companies, Wolff bought a stake in a company heavily involved in the DTM championship, with links to Mercedes-Benz. It was to Williams that Wolff turned for his first Formula One investment, however, becoming a shareholder in late 2009. A couple of years later, he was announced as an Executive Director at the team, and appeared to be lining up as a big part of the Williams’ team succession plan.

In January 2013, Wolff surprised F1 circles with confirmation that he would be moving to Mercedes, retaining a similar shareholder/Executive Director role at his new team, whilst also keeping a stake in the Williams outfit. Wolff is also married to Susie Wolff, who is a development driver at the Williams team, continuing his ties at Grove despite his attempts to move onwards and upwards. With Ross Brawn’s retirement from Mercedes at the end of 2013, Wolff becomes the figurehead of the team, in charge of guiding them through all their F1 and motorsport activities.