Wolff reveals how 'trauma and humiliation' SHAPED him
Wolff reveals how 'trauma and humiliation' SHAPED him
Toto Wolff has talked about the way 'humiliation and trauma' have shaped him as a man and a leader, although he admitted that he would prefer not to have gone through them.
The Austrian Mercedes boss told Sky Sports' 'Secrets of Success' documentary that his father's battle with brain cancer shaped him as a boy, saying the trauma remains part of him.
The two-hour documentary saw a number of sporting leaders from cricket, rugby union, the NFL, cycling and football talking to former England cricket captain Nasser Hussain about their leadership styles and journeys.
"You are good at things and bad at others," he responded, when asked if leaders were born or made. "You have a certain degree of talent but there is a bit influence through your childhood. I believe that there were many things in my life, humiliation and trauma, that were beneficial for my later career. I'd rather not have them.
READ MORE: Toto Wolff: Net worth, wife and career profile of Mercedes giant
Wolff: 'Great leaders need luck'
"[Leadership] is a mix in my opinion, talent needs to meet hard work, passion and enthusiasm, particularly with children and teenagers that grow up. The right support network, and then a big portion of luck."
Wolff's Mercedes team won an astonishing eight consecutive constructors' titles from 2014 to 2021, smashing the previous record of six held by the Ferrari team of the late 90s and early 2000s.
"It has an impact until today," he said when asked about his father's death. "Since I can remember, my father was ill with brain cancer, he suffered with it for ten years and eventually died when I was 15. There is a time where as a boy you need a father. That wasn't the case for me.
"We were in financially difficult circumstances which didn't help either, so that certainly is a part of how I am today with all the bad sides that come with it, the trauma, but on the other side ambition and eagerness to do well."
READ MORE: F1 Team Principals: Who are the men in charge in 2023?
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Schumacher names shock F1 star to replace Hulkenberg at Haas
- 38 minutes ago
Hamilton in Arsenal title wish after STUNNING revelation
- 1 hour ago
F1 boss 'in early talks' to SELL 25 percent of team
- 2 hours ago
Will F1 hopeful Antonelli replace Sargeant from Imola?
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton dealt major Newey blow as Red Bull chief makes BRUTAL admission
- Today 12:04
Schumacher reveals how Mercedes could snare Verstappen
- Today 11:42
Related news
Mercedes reveal shock RED livery to celebrate historic milestone
Verstappen 'to meet Mercedes over SHOCK 2025 move as Red Bull exit clause revealed'
BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed
Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860