Wolff tweaks communication style to avoid 'breaking' Mercedes

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed to adjusting his communication style due to him being Austrian and the majority of the team being British.

The Silver Arrows has made a shocking start to the 2024 season and sit fourth in the constructors' championship, whilst it is the worst start to a campaign for Lewis Hamilton in his 18-year F1 career.

What is going on at Mercedes is a question many would love answered, although Wolff concedes the team is working around the clock to solve it.

With Wolff describing Austrians as "very direct" compared to those from the UK, he claims he has adapted to work better with the Brackley-based outfit.

"As an Austrian, we very much wear our hearts on our sleeves, and we say things very direct," Wolff explained to select media including RacingNews365. "An Austrian says 'That's really s***', and a British person would say 'That's interesting'.

"So I had to adapt the way I communicate to not create even more pressure in the team because it would break us. It's not because of a lack of trying that we are not competitive. So I'd rather be helpful and encouraging than say 'That's not interesting'."

'We are all humans'

Many observers expected Mercedes to reduce the gap with Red Bull this year, following the introduction of a completely new concept.

Just like its predecessor though, the W15 has considerable flaws, which are being investigated.

"I think you always need to look at ourselves like I need to look at myself," conceded Wolff. "What is it? Why is it that we can't get there?

"We are all humans. The data won't make decisions, humans do. We're not stopping, and I'm not sitting here and wailing. I would say that on the contrary, I'm thinking of what else is it that we need to do and how can we push."