Toto Wolff says Mercedes F1 role has 'taken its toll'

Toto Wolff admits that eight years in the role of team principal of the Mercedes Formula 1 team is "taking its toll" as he continues to weigh up his future. 

Wolff’s future at Mercedes has been the subject of much speculation since the start of the year, with the Austrian’s contract due to expire at the end of 2020.

Mercedes’ team principal has played an instrumental role in leading the team to become the most successful in F1 history, having claimed six consecutive world championship doubles.

He has previously insisted that he has no plans to leave Mercedes but admitted his position within the team could alter.

Wolff said he was “still in a year of reflection” and stressed he has until 31 December to make a final decision on what his role will entail next season.

"I love this team and I get along with [Mercedes CEO] Ola Kallenius fantastically," Wolff said. "I think this is my place.

"It is just that eight years in this team as a team principal are taking its toll, and this is something that I'm reflecting on.

"It is important to take the right decision for my family and myself, but you can be sure that I will be involved in this team in some way or another."

Wolff, who runs the entire Mercedes motorsport programme, also has a 30 percent share in the team as well as leading the F1 operation.

With Valtteri Bottas having agreed a contract extension for next year, Mercedes’ focus will now turn to securing the services of six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton beyond the end of this season.

Hamilton said he is in no rush to finalise a new contract with Mercedes and recently revealed he feels uncomfortable about agreeing a big-money deal in uncertain times amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mercedes is on course to win a record seventh world championship double this year, with Hamilton looking likely to equal Michael Schumacher’s tally of seven drivers’ world titles in 2020.