When Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line, the cameras typically pan to Toto Wolff cheering behind the scenes at Mercedes’ mission control on the pit wall.
Wolff, the Austrian CEO and head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, thrives under pressure. Under his leadership, the Mercedes Formula 1 team has won seven consecutive F1 world titles.
“Sports are such a good environment because you either win or lose,” Wolff says. “In business, you can get away with things. In politics, you can have explanations. But in sports, explanations aren’t worth anything if you haven’t won.”
But Wolff has a much deeper (financial) incentive to win.