Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has admitted he held “initial discussions” with Liberty Media’s Greg Maffei over a role in Formula 1 governance, but says he quickly realised it wasn’t for him.
F1 announced on Friday that Stefano Domenicali has been appointed as the championship’s new president and CEO, replacing Chase Carey.
Wolff had been touted in the media as a potential Carey replacement, but Ferrari had made it clear it would consider exercising its F1 veto if he were selected.
Ferrari’s concern led to the introduction of a two-year grace period that meant nobody could jump directly from a team role to running the championship.
However, Wolff claims that Ferrari’s objection wasn’t the only reason behind him dropping out of the list of contenders.
“I think everybody knows that there were some initial discussions with Greg, and it never went anywhere – but we get on well, I respect Greg Maffei a lot for what he has achieved,” Wolff said.
“But I love where I am and I found out that I love the stopwatch, so much, the competition and the racing, that where I am today, co-owner of the team with Mercedes, I have to pinch myself every single day.
“And in the end it wouldn’t have gone anywhere anyway because Ferrari wouldn’t have accepted that.
“I know that. But that’s okay. They have this right and if you have that right, it’s very easy to – I respect it, absolutely, I would’ve probably had the same thoughts.
“At the end maybe [I would’ve made a] different decision, because you’ve got to have the best guy to run the sport – but I think they have the best guy today, Stefano is just the real deal.”
Wolff said his first proper encounter with Domenicali was in Monaco in 2013, when Ferrari – which Domenicali was team principal of – joined Red Bull in protesting Mercedes over an unauthorised tyre test.
“I’m still laughing with him about that,” Wolff said. “His first action [during my tenure] was protesting us – but no, since then we’ve had a very good relationship, simply because of his personality – you just have to get on with him.”
Wolff was effusive in his praise of Domenicali’s appointment, calling it a “great move from Liberty”.
“I think Stefano is foremost a man with a great personality, integrity, and knowledge of the sport,” Wolff said. “He’s been a sporting director, a team principal, has gone through difficult time and successful times, has been involved in the Audi Formula 1 project for a while and at the end was the guy that led Lamborghini to tremendous performances – financial performances and also honestly the cars are great. I think he’s a very very good choice for the role.”
The Mercedes boss, who has been the leading voice opposing F1’s push to trial reversed-grid races, has also expressed his belief that Domenicali would steer F1 clear of “artificial things”.
“He’s a purist, but equally understands that you need to keep your spectators and your audiences interested. So I think that balance is really complicated to have right. And I think he will get that right.”
