
The Mercedes F1 pressure changes under 10 years of Toto Wolff
OPINION: Although the central building blocks for Mercedes’ recent, long-lasting Formula 1 success were installed before he joined the team, Toto Wolff has been instrumental in ensuring it maximised its finally-realised potential after years of underachievement. The 10-year anniversary of Wolff joining Mercedes marks the perfect time to assess his work
"Mercedes seems to be fumbling in the dark. It's not a question of a certain individual not being good enough, it's about whether the culture of the way a team operates is conducive to success."
So stated Autosport magazine in October 2012 – just a week after Lewis Hamilton had been announced as joining Mercedes and ending his long association with McLaren. In our 4 October issue that year, we were assessing the fallout from Hamilton’s decision to join the Silver Arrows squad and wondering what it might one day mean for the reputations of both driver and (then) upcoming new team.

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.
A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.
Ben Sulayem drama will calm down once F1 racing starts, reckons Ferrari boss
How Driver’s Eye camera became a Formula 1 TV gamechanger
More from Alex Kalinauckas

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen dominates ahead of Hamilton and Russell
F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen dominates ahead of Hamilton and Russell F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen dominates ahead of Hamilton and Russell

Why McLaren shocked on F1’s toughest aero track
Why McLaren shocked on F1’s toughest aero track Why McLaren shocked on F1’s toughest aero track

Sainz expecting Perez to still give Red Bull Spanish GP 1-2 despite starting 11th
Sainz expecting Perez to still give Red Bull Spanish GP 1-2 despite starting 11th Sainz expecting Perez to still give Red Bull Spanish GP 1-2 despite starting 11th

F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen claims pole over Sainz, Leclerc falls in Q1
F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen claims pole over Sainz, Leclerc falls in Q1 F1 Spanish GP: Verstappen claims pole over Sainz, Leclerc falls in Q1

McLaren repurposes old F1 factory as new composites facility
McLaren repurposes old F1 factory as new composites facility McLaren repurposes old F1 factory as new composites facility

What we learned from Friday practice at F1's 2023 Spanish GP
What we learned from Friday practice at F1's 2023 Spanish GP What we learned from Friday practice at F1's 2023 Spanish GP
Latest news

Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail"
Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail" Vowles admits Williams F1 car floor is "lacking detail"

Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari
Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari Le Mans 24 Hours: Porsche heads second practice from Ferrari

Peugeot 'disappointed' by Le Mans speed after missing Hyperpole
Peugeot 'disappointed' by Le Mans speed after missing Hyperpole Peugeot 'disappointed' by Le Mans speed after missing Hyperpole

WRC drivers meeting a “constructive” forum for future improvements
WRC drivers meeting a “constructive” forum for future improvements WRC drivers meeting a “constructive” forum for future improvements

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate
Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.