Toto Wolff’s Mercedes approach praised by Guenther Steiner:

— Guenther Steiner credited Toto Wolff for his role in Mercedes’ success, calling him a “pretty smart guy” who brought a unique approach to the team.

“I think what Toto brought is he comes from the financial world. He knows how to run the business, and he brings a lot of enthusiasm. And I think he’s pretty smart, you know, he’s pretty smart guy,” Steiner said.

“Again, do not tell him that I said that, otherwise, his head blows up.”

— Steiner noted that Wolff, despite owning a third of the team, remains highly involved and committed, attending races and working hard.

“I sometimes wonder why he’s doing it. I mean, he owns a third of the team. He wouldn’t need to go to each race, he just could take on somebody, and he being the chairman sitting in his palace in Monte Carlo, and going to the races he likes to go to. But he still works very hard at the job, which, again, it’s to be respected.”

— Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes in 2013, Steiner remarked that Niki Lauda and Ross Brawn played crucial roles in convincing him, as Wolff was relatively new at the time.

“But Niki [Lauda] and Ross Brawn told him what’s going to happen with the team because at the time, Toto was not this Toto that he is now. Toto was the new boy on the block, and I think his credibility came afterwards, you know.”

— Steiner also highlighted that Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes was a case of “right time, right place,” with the team’s transition into a dominant force aligning perfectly with his career move.

“He had a good feeling to move there. I think he… as I sometimes say, or a lot of times say, right time, right place. But you make your own decision.”

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VIA: [PLANET F1: