‘They’re Forcing Me To Stay’: Toto Wolff Jokes About His Rejected Mercedes Resignations 

Toto Wolff has revealed that he has offered to resign as Mercedes team principal several times in recent years. However, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius has refused to accept his departure.

Wolff joked during the Golden Steering Wheel awards ceremony in Berlin, Germany, where he reflected on his future with Mercedes after leading them to their ninth Constructors’ Championship.

When asked whether he would continue as Mercedes team principal, Wolff joked: “I’ve offered my resignation to Ola Källenius several times, but he’s always told me: ‘No, you stay.’ I don’t want to, but they’re forcing me to stay.”

Wolff has led Mercedes since their first F1 season in 2013 and also holds a one-third ownership stake in the team. His responsibilities extend beyond race weekends, as he oversees the wider organization and its long-term direction.

Mercedes Ends Four-Year Wait for Constructors’ Title

Wolff received the award after Mercedes completed a championship double in 2026. The team had not won the Constructors’ Championship since 2021, ending its four-year wait with a strong campaign under the latest technical regulations.

Kimi Antonelli secured the Drivers’ Championship at the Mexican Grand Prix, becoming Formula 1’s youngest world champion at 20. Mercedes then bagged its ninth Constructors’ Championship at the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 8.

George Russell finished fourth at Interlagos, with Antonelli taking fifth place. Their combined points gave Mercedes an unassailable advantage over Ferrari with one round remaining.

The result marked Mercedes’ return to the top of the constructors’ standings after its dominant championship run from 2014 to 2021. It also gave the team another major achievement under Wolff’s leadership.

Toto Wolff Matches Frank Williams and Ron Dennis’ Records

Mercedes’ latest success helped Wolff equal two significant records in Formula 1 history. His nine Constructors’ Championships as team principal put him level with Frank Williams, who achieved the same number with his team.

The Austrian has also overseen 17 combined Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Championships since joining Mercedes. This puts him on level with former McLaren team principal Ron Dennis, who also won 17 titles during his tenure.

Mercedes has now won nine Constructors’ Championships, placing it third on the all-time list, sharing the spot with Williams. Ferrari leads the standings with 16 titles, while McLaren has 10.

Toto Wolff Turns His Attention to Las Vegas Grand Prix

After receiving the recognition for Mercedes’ achievements, Wolff is already looking ahead to the next challenge. The team is preparing for the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, where it will continue working to improve its performance.

Speaking after the Brazilian GP, Wolff explained his immediate priorities: “I’m just thinking, ‘What went wrong in this race?’ Why have we underperformed? And what can we do for Las Vegas and next year?”

His approach shows that securing the Constructors’ Championship has not changed his expectations. Mercedes still wants to understand its performance across different circuits and identify areas that need improvement before the season ends.

The Las Vegas weekend will also give Russell another opportunity to strengthen his position in the drivers’ standings. Meanwhile, Antonelli will aim to finish his first title-winning season with another strong result.

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