Szafnauer 'can't see' Wolff taking stake in Aston Martin F1 team

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Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer doesn't believe that Toto Wolff's personal investment in Aston Martin Lagonda will lead to the Mercedes boss taking a stake in its affiliated F1 outfit.

The Aston Martin name will return to Grand Prix racing next season thanks to its tie-up with Racing Point, an partnership established by the pink team's owner and new Aston investor Lawrence Stroll.

Wolff - a close friend of Stroll - recently revealed that he had acquired a 0.95% stake in the prestigious sportscar manufacturer, but Szafnauer doubts the Austrian will get involved in Racing Point beyond the team's current engine partnership with Mercedes.

Wolff offers insight into personal Aston Martin investment

"He's done an amazing job at Mercedes, but I can't see him having a stake in our team for example," Szafnauer said in a video cast with Sky Sports.

"The road car company, having shares in that is completely different than having shares in a loss-making Formula 1 team."

Wolff recently said that his decision to invest approximately £37 million in Aston Martin Lagonda - prompted in part by the company's depressed share price - was done with the approval of Mercedes' parent company Daimler.

Whether it will prove fruitful, only time will tell, but Szafnauer says the astute Austrian's track record as an investor bodes well for his Aston endeavor.

"I haven't spoken to him in six or seven weeks since the Australian Grand Prix," he said.

"But knowing Toto like I do, I think he's absolutely right, it was a good time to buy if you look at the share price and the trend.

"Toto's pretty smart at that stuff, I think he's made a little bit of money in these types of things, and I wouldn't doubt what he says. I think he's absolutely right, good time to buy."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.