Prost’s Influence on Wolff’s Mercedes F1 Driver Management

A discussion with Formula 1 icon Alain Prost shaped how Toto Wolff has interacted with drivers through the years, according to the Mercedes boss.

The four-time world champion had a famous rivalry with Ayrton Senna, who challenged Prost for the F1 title in 1988 and 1989 while they were teammates at McLaren, a dominant force at the time. 

Each of them secured a title during that time, marked by notable incidents like Suzuka 1989, ultimately leading Prost to join Ferrari due to the increasingly tense atmosphere.

Wolff oversaw a comparable team-mate rivalry, as childhood friends Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fiercely competed for the championship from 2014 to 2016 during Mercedes’ unprecedented streak of eight consecutive constructors’ titles. 

Hamilton and Rosberg also had numerous clashes, such as Barcelona 2016, and a conversation before a race influenced Wolff’s approach to handling team-mate rivalries.

“What I’m trying to encourage within the team is openness,” said Wolff, who took over as Mercedes F1 boss in 2013. “When I joined Mercedes, I met Alain Prost, who I wasn’t familiar with at the time.

Alain Prost, Renault Sport F1 Team Special Advisor and Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Director of Motorsport on the grid

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“It was a brief exchange on the starting grid, and I asked him, ‘what was the root of the issues between Senna and yourself?’”

“He responded, ‘there weren’t any issues between us. The problem was that the team management pitted us against each other – we were never certain of our standing. One weekend you were favored, the next you were unsure if you’d even have a spot, and we never received clear information’.

“That escalated, leading to increased suspicion and isolation. Ultimately, it caused a breakdown in the relationships between the drivers and with the team, and I resolved to avoid making the same error.”

Wolff also drew inspiration from Niki Lauda, the late Mercedes non-executive chairman, who once told him, “we don’t deceive; we’re straightforward – we call things as they are.”

This approach has been consistent with all Mercedes drivers, including Hamilton, Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas, and current driver George Russell, particularly after recent speculation about the Silver Arrows potentially signing Max Verstappen for 2026.

“I maintain transparency with George, as I did with Lewis previously and with Valtteri,” Wolff stated.

Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director

Photo by: Daimler AG

“Some might view it as naive, but with someone I value as a family member, a team member, an ally, and part of our group, I will always be completely honest.

“Not everyone can handle that. George can, and Lewis also could. That’s why our conversations have been so open.

“George was the first person I called to say, ‘look, I need to explore this possibility. It’s my responsibility as team principal to do so, so you’re not blindsided,’ and I believe that’s crucial.”

Wolff recalled the consequences of Rosberg’s unexpected retirement just five days after securing the 2016 title, which led to a frank conversation between him and Hamilton after a challenging year.

Weeks earlier, Hamilton had defied team orders at the Abu Dhabi season finale, deliberately slowing down Rosberg into the path of the cars behind, hoping they would overtake him.

Ultimately, they didn’t, and Hamilton’s relationship with Mercedes was strained until an off-season discussion resolved the issues, leading to his fourth of seven titles in 2017.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, leads Nico Rosberg, Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, and Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB12

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“It was a challenging period with Lewis,” Wolff said. “We faced a very, very difficult time around the FIA prizegiving when Nico made his announcement, and in the weeks that followed.

“That’s when I proposed that we sit down because if we’re not communicating, where will that lead?

“I also emphasized that I wanted him to remain with the team for an extended period, acknowledging him as the best driver. If he believed we were the best team, then we needed to sit down and agree to disagree, or address all the contentious points.

“What we both realized is the importance of communication because, on many issues, we share common goals, and in situations where we don’t, we at least have an understanding.

“That was a constructive discussion, and shutting down communication isn’t the right approach. You need to have the conversation, even if it’s difficult, and that’s what I’ve done ever since.”