Rosberg: Wolff exit could lead to 'bad turn of events'

Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg believes that a departure from the helm of team boss Toto Wolff could lead to "a really bad turn of events" for the Brackley squad.

Wolff is still in talks with Mercedes about his exact role with the German outfit from 2021, having expressed the desire to take a step back from the team's day to day operations.

While Wolff insists that changes involving his responsibilities won't impact Mercedes' outstanding performance or Lewis Hamilton's allegiance to the team, Rosberg believes a change of leadership could entail dire consequences for the championship winning outfit.

"I do think it matters," Rosberg said. "Because Lewis is very convinced that Toto is an integral part of the success of that team, which is true, because Toto absolutely is.

"And it's not guaranteed that if Toto goes and there is a new leader that the stability remains.

"And also if Toto goes it could potentially be a spiraling effect, so that many of the team leaders in the leading positions say, 'OK it's the end of the an era, Toto's going, I loved to work with him, let's also move on to something new.'

"And that could be a really bad turn of events for the team."

The 2016 world champion also chimed in on Sebastian Vettel's state of affairs, suggesting his countryman's confidence has been destroyed by a succession of mistakes, circumstances and the nature of F1's current cars.

However, Rosberg believes a "huge opportunity" awaits Vettel at Aston Martin Racing.

"First of all, these cars are much more nervous than we've ever seen," said Rosberg. "The rear sometimes just snaps, and you can't feel it. And that takes away confidence from drivers a lot.

• Read also: Wolff admits to surviving 'difficult times' with Hamilton

"Sebastian has always been a driver who needs a stable rear end, he need confidence in the rear end. I think he's gone into a big negative spiral.

"Things start small, one big mistake when you're in the lead in Hockenheim, another one here, another one there, and then it starts to become a big avalanche.

"It just spirals you negatively, and the more negative you are mentally the more doubtful you are, the more mistakes you do. It just goes from worst to worst to worst.

"Also the team also has Leclerc as their god, and he's not the god anymore. That's also a big spiral downwards, and that's a big shock.

"He was the number one for Ferrari, for the whole country, and suddenly there's this young Leclerc, signed on a five-year contract. I think it's a big mental thing as well.

"His big chance is Aston Martin, it's a huge opportunity. He's going to be god again in that team, the car is fast, he can have some real success moments and have a positive mental spiral, and maybe come back to being as good as he used to be, and also remove those mistakes.

"So it's a big chance for him, and I'm really happy for him that he's found that opportunity."

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