The two top car manufacturing teams in Formula 1: Mercedes and Ferrari, have been direct competitors ever since Red Bull dethroned the Silver Arrows. Now, with Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes for Ferrari, the battle is getting fierce between Toto Wolff and Frederic Vasseur. However, this battle only exists on the tracks.

One lesser-known fact is that Toto Wolff and Frederic Vasseur are not just eternal rivals, but also good friends. In a program where Sky Sports calls in young presenters to interview personalities, the Mercedes Boss was asked by 13-year-old Zac Brown (no connection to McLaren) about his favorite Team Principal in the paddock. Which led Wolff to reveal some details about his friend/rival.

Toto Wolff reveals that his relationship with his favorite team principal is getting strained

During the interview, Zac Brown asked Toto Wolff the question, “So, who’s your favorite team principal in the paddock?” In response to this, the Mercedes Boss said, “I think I’ve, um, I really have a good relationship with Fred Vasseur, and we’ve been friends for a long time.”

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But despite their friendship, recent years have been difficult as Wolff explains, “It’s getting a bit rough now as direct competitors, but I guess this comes with the job, and we can compartmentalize very well.”

After being the most dominant team in Formula One for 8 consecutive years in a row, Mercedes has been overtaken by Red Bull, leaving them to fight to retain P2. Ferrari has been catching up with the team and has even left them behind in 2022. And in 2023, the final gap was just 4 points.

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As the battle for position in the pecking order, things get tense between the teams and as Wolff said, they separate their work and professional life. But that was not the only name that Wolff mentioned.

Zak Brown a runner-up in Toto Wolff’s favorite team principal list

While Frederic Vasseur takes the title of the Mercedes boss’ favorite principal, on the other hand, McLaren’s Team Principal, Zak Brown, was given a mention. As Wolff continued to tell the 13-year-old presenter, “And, um, I’m getting on with Zak, similar kind of mindset, but we’re all fierce competitors when we go into the paddocks.” 

So far in 2024, Ferrari not only has the Silver Arrows in their rearview but it is also McLaren that is steadily picking up pace. With the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the Papayas have scored enough points to put them at P3, ahead of the Brackley-based team. As the season unfolds, Mercedes has a lot of catching up to do, as they are no longer the unbeatable force they were through most of the 2010s.

That being said, we would like to ask you the same question as Zac Brown did to Toto Wolff. Who is your favorite team principal in Formula 1? Let us know in the comments below.

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