Toto Wolff, the boss of Mercedes, has shared a fascinating insight into how he manages his star drivers. In a media session with Dutch journalists at Zandvoort, Wolff elaborated on his philosophy of giving drivers freedom, using Lewis Hamilton and the iconic 2018 Singapore Grand Prix as a prime example.
At the time, Hamilton was heavily involved in his fashion line with Tommy Hilfiger, even hosting fashion shows in Shanghai and New York just days before the crucial race in Singapore. Wolff admitted that the late Niki Lauda questioned his decision to allow Hamilton to travel for non-racing commitments.
"Niki said, 'Toto, how on earth can you allow this? We're racing in Singapore next weekend,'" Wolff recalled. However, Wolff had his own conviction. He believed that to get the maximum performance from a driver, he needed to understand their personality and needs, rather than forcing them into a rigid box.
The results spoke for themselves. Hamilton delivered an outstanding performance in Singapore, securing a legendary pole position and going on to win the race. For Wolff, that moment proved the effectiveness of his personal approach, highlighting the trust he places in his drivers.
This story also draws a compelling parallel with how Red Bull handles Max Verstappen, granting him significant freedom to compete in other series like the Nurburgring 24 Hours. Wolff emphasized that every team and driver has different needs, and a team principal's job is to find the right formula to maximize their potential.
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