10. Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff is Team Principal & CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. He is the managing partner of the team alongside wider responsibilities as Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

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Born into modest surroundings in Vienna, Austria, Toto’s first taste of motorsport came when at 17, whilst watching a friend race at the Nürburgring. A short racing career of his own followed, competing in Austrian Formula Ford and scoring a class win at the 1994 Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Toto called time on his racing career just three years later, pursuing his business career and finding a new outlet for his talent – investment. After studying at the Vienna University of Economics and Business, Toto founded his own investment company, Marchfifteen, in 1998, followed by Marchsixteen in 2004.

Initially focusing on internet and technology companies in the ‘tech boom’ era of the 90s, the business developed strategic investments in medium-sized industrial companies and listed companies.

One of these investments included the initial public offering of HWA AG – the company responsible for developing and racing Mercedes-Benz cars for the DTM (German Touring Car Championship), as well as Mercedes-Benz’s successful Formula 3 engine programme. Toto divested his stake in HWA AG in 2015.

In 2002, Toto started a new venture, co-owning a racing driver management company alongside two-time Formula One World Champion Mika Häkkinen. The same year, Toto returned to racing, winning once en route to sixth in the FIA GT World Championship. Further success followed in 2006 when Toto claimed top overall honours at the 24 Hours of Bahrain.

In November 2009, Toto Wolff merged his passion for racing and investment by investing in the Williams F1 Team. By July 2012, Toto was the Executive Director of the team, playing a key leadership role as Williams scored its first win in eight years at the Spanish Grand Prix that season.

Less than a year later, Toto was announced as managing partner of the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team in January 2013 after purchasing a 30 per cent stake of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

Subsequently appointed Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport at the end of 2013, Toto went on to assume full responsibility for the entire Mercedes-Benz motorsport programme – from Formula One to Formula E, sports cars and the Formula 3 engine programme.

An entrepreneur, an investor and a racer, motorsport runs in Toto Wolff’s blood. Under his leadership, the Mercedes-AMG F1 Team has clinched seven consecutive Formula One Double World Championships.