F1 News: Toto Wolff Addresses Shocking Mercedes Exit Rumours - "No Correlation"

Toto Wolff clarifies that Mike Elliott's departure is not linked to the zero-pod concept change

Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff has categorically stated that Mike Elliott's recent departure is not a result of the team's decision to ditch their unique zero-pod design. Despite the timing suggesting a possible connection, Wolff emphasises that the change in design and Elliott's exit are unrelated events.

Key Takeaways

• Toto Wolff has clarified that the departure of Mercedes' technical director, Mike Elliott, is not linked to the team's move away from the zero-pod concept despite speculations.
• Wolff paid homage to Elliott, referring to him as one of the most intelligent individuals in the industry, and discussed his contribution and decision to seek new challenges after an 11-year tenure.
• Emphasising the collective responsibility in car performance, Wolff dismissed the notion that Elliott’s departure was due to the car’s failure, affirming that the team's strength in depth ensures resilience against such changes.

Toto Wolff's recent comments aim to set the record straight regarding the departure of Mercedes' long-standing technical director, Mike Elliott.

The timing of Elliott's exit, following closely behind the team's strategic pivot from their innovative zero-pod design, fuelled rumours that the two events were causally linked. However, Wolff has been explicit in denying such connections. During an interview with Sky Sports F1 in Brazil, he expressed his respect and appreciation for Elliott, calling him "my number one employee for many, many years" and praising his intellectual contribution to the team.

Mercedes Press Image

Wolff's tribute to Elliott was both a farewell and an acknowledgement of the high-pressure environment that defines Formula 1, acknowledging the personal toll it can take even on the most dedicated of professionals. He remarked on the strength of character it takes to step away from such an intense field, to seek out new horizons.

In addressing questions about whether the car's underperformance, such as in Bahrain, was to blame for Elliott's departure, Wolff stood firm on the principle of collective responsibility. 

"We are going to miss one of the most clever people in the industry.

"It was just a hard toll on him over those many years and I find it very remarkable that somebody can say 'you know what? I need to do something else rather than holding on to this'.

"Formula 1 anyway is an incestuous environment. If someone is strong and says 'I'm done with it' for the time being that's good.

"It's never the decision of a single person. I think as a group, we are trying to build the quickest race car and obviously we were so far down that route with the concept of the car, that we thought maybe we got on top of it, we didn't.

"That's why we changed it and we put lots of plasters on the car in order to be more competitive like we see now. But that hasn't got any correlation.

"It's no single person's fault if a car doesn't perform. It's also not one single person that makes the car faster. I think we have such a strength in the organisation that you can take one out and everybody else is going to cover that.

"I don't think that's going to change anything next year."