All posts tagged: Toto

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he’s not looking to sign Max Verstappen for 2026

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says he’s not looking to sign Max Verstappen for 2026

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With superstar Lewis Hamilton leaving behind a massive void at Mercedes, there were rumours swirling around that the team was looking to snap up reigning F1 world champion Max Verstappen for the 2026 season. However, ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal and chief executive Toto Wolff has dismissed rumours linking the team with a prospective swoop for Verstappen. “I think we’ve said it pretty clearly last year, and (Verstappen) said the same, we need to concentrate on our driver line-up, we need to do (the best with) that we have,” Wolff told reporters on Thursday. “I don’t flirt outside if I’m in a good relationship, and that is true for this year, too. So, at the moment that is not on any, let’s say, radar and I don’t plan to shift my concentration away from these guys and make sure that George (Russell) has a contract (extension) pretty soon and we agree on the final things. We have had a chat (with Russell) a few weeks ago about what the right timing …

F1: Lewis Hamilton’s heartfelt radio exchange with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and race engineer Bono | Motor-sport News

F1: Lewis Hamilton’s heartfelt radio exchange with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and race engineer Bono | Motor-sport News

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“Lewis, it’s Hammer Time”. A radio message that was once feared by the opponents and their fans, will now be missed on the grid. Lewis Hamilton drove his last race for Mercedes on Sunday at the Yas Marina Circuit, a team with whom he has won six world titles. As the race ended, the British driver shared an emotional radio exchange with his race engineer Peter Bonnington, often referred to as Bono on the team radio, and team principal Toto Wolff. Both had very heartwarming messages for Hamilton as he drove around the Yas Marina Circuit after crossing the finish line in the cooldown lap, before treating the fans to a donut spectacle. “I love you guys. I really, really do” Lewis signs off his time with Mercedes in style#F1 #AbuDhabiGP pic.twitter.com/VhGfFcUASd — Formula 1 (@F1) December 8, 2024 “Lewis, that was the drive of a world champion,” Toto Wolff was all praises for the driver as Hamilton thanked the team on the radio for all the hard work they have done for him over …

Abu Dhabi GP: Ahead of final Mercedes race, Lewis Hamilton gets apology from Toto Wolff | Motor-sport News

Abu Dhabi GP: Ahead of final Mercedes race, Lewis Hamilton gets apology from Toto Wolff | Motor-sport News

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff apologised to Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the team after the seven-time World Champion finished 18th in qualification for the Abu Dhabi GP, his final as a Mercedes driver before his move to Ferrari. It was a poor bit of luck that got Hamilton in the end. Looking good in free practice with a car that was finally looking fast, the Briton seemed poised to make it to Q2 with ease. But in his final run of Q1, the bollard of Kevin Magnussen’s Haas got stuck underneath Hamilton’s car. The incident resulted in a loss of downforce for the Mercedes and Hamilton, for whom this was supposed to be a final swansong with a team he achieved so much, was forced into the 18th spot ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “I just need to apologise to Lewis,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1. “Also to everyone in the team that worked so hard to make it a great end for him. He was the quicker guy with that kind …

Salvatore ‘Totò’ Schillaci, top scorer of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, dies at 59 | Football News

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Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italian striker who won the golden ball and the golden boot award at the 1990 World Cup, died on Wednesday at the age of 59. Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo’s Civico hospital 11 days ago following his treatment of colon cancer. Schillaci, fondly referred to as Totò was Italy’s standout player during their home World Cup campaign in 1990 – scoring six goals during the edition in which Italy finished third. Overall, he made 16 appearances for the national team during the course of his career. At club level, he represented the likes of Juventus and Italy and went on to score 154 goals from 417 appearances. “You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter wrote in its tribute to Schillaci. Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be observed in the memory of Italian before all games in the country for the rest of the week. “The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, …

Toto Wolff, Christian Horner Clash Anew Over Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Future

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File image of Max Verstappen© AFP Toto Wolff and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner have reignited their war of words over Max Verstappen after the Mercedes boss again hinted at poaching the three-time world champion. Verstappen’s future at Red Bull was thrown into doubt last month after his father, Jos, said the team was in danger of being “torn apart” if Horner remained its principal. It came after allegations against Horner of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman colleague. He denied the claims and an internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. Verstappen has publicly committed his future to Red Bull, but following the Dutchman’s dominant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, Mercedes boss Wolff stirred the pot anew. Wolff told reporters in Shanghai that “everyone is waiting to see what he (Verstappen) is going to do”. “There are so many factors that play a role for a driver joining,” said Wolff, who needs to replace seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving for Ferrari next year. “Clearly, from the most rational point of …

Sebastian Vettel ‘tempted’ to make Formula 1 return after talks with Mercedes’ Toto Wolff | Motor-sport News

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Former Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel has said that he could be “tempted” by the possibility of a comeback to the sport following talks with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Mercedes are on a hunt for a new driver after Lewis Hamilton stated that he would be leaving the Silver Arrows for Ferrari after an 11-year association. Meanwhile, a four-time champion with Red Bull between 2010 and 2013, Vettel had announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 season. He had spent the later years of his career at Ferrari and Aston Martin in a two-year stint. The 36-year-old has stated that a talk with multiple team bosses has prompted him to consider a comeback. “I am speaking to Toto. I don’t know if that qualifies as Mercedes, but about other things,” Vettel told Sky Sports News. “I’m talking to a lot of people because I know them, but not very specific. It (return) does cross my mind, I do think about it, but it’s not the main thought,” the German added. “I …

Max Verstappen Dominates Testing As Toto Wolff Says Christian Horner Probe ‘Issue For All F1’

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Three-time world champion Max Verstappen gave his struggling rivals little hope for optimism ahead of the new Formula One season when he dominated the first day of winter testing on Wednesday. The Red Bull driver was more than a second faster than Lando Norris in a McLaren with Carlos Sainz, about to start his final year as a Ferrari driver, in third spot at the Sakhir track where the season-opener takes place on March 2. Sainz will lose his seat at Ferrari to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who is entering his last campaign behind the wheel of a Mercedes. Hamilton will be in action on Thursday. Verstappen’s performance was a boost for a Red Bull team reeling from an investigation into team chief Christian Horner who has been accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female member of staff. “It feels good to be back in an F1 car again and I had fun out on track today. We covered a lot of laps and tried quite a few things with the car, …