Wolff admits Mercedes team boss role is 'taking its toll'

Toto Wolff says his position at the helm of the Mercedes F1 team since 2013 has "taken its toll", yet the Austrian is likely to extend his involvement with the Brackley squad beyond 2020.

Wolff, a 30% shareholder of Mercedes F1, will see his management contract with the German manufacturer's team expire at the end of the season.

While the 48-year-old is likely to retain a position with Mercedes F1, he could relinquish his day-to-day role for more detached responsibilities that would not require his presence at every race.

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"I love this team and I get along with Ola Källenius [Mercedes CEO] fantastically, I think this is my place," said Wolff.

"It is just that eight years in this team as a team principal are taking its toll, and this is something that I’m reflecting on.

"It is important to take the right decision for my family and myself, but you can be sure that I will be involved in this team in some way or other."

Wolff's current main objective - in addition to guiding Mercedes to a seventh consecutive world title - is to ensure the future of Lewis Hamilton at the team.

Both men have gone on record declaring that an extension of Hamilton's association with Mercedes is almost a certainty, with a few considerations remaining to be agreed.

But the Briton has also linked his future to Wolff's own plans for 2021, although the latter believes the six-time world champion's success rate at Mercedes would not suffer from his departure.
"Our relationship is strong, as far as a professional relationship allows," Wolff told Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport. "We are friends.

"But if I decided to quit, he would continue to win because there are so many good people in the team.

"It’s just as if he had to quit we would lose a great driver, but Mercedes would not start losing championships as long as we have the best car and the best drivers."

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