Netflix’s Drive to Survive turned F1 into a global obsession, but CEO of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, Toto Wolff, is not buying the hype. He straight-up finds the show cringe.
While fans love the behind-the-scenes drama, Wolff isn’t here for the over-the-top storytelling. F1 is already pretty intense, but whether Wolff likes it or not, the series has brought in millions of new fans.
Toto Wolff slams Drive to Survive for overhyping F1 drama
The Mercedes CEO and Austrian billionaire investor Toto Wolff admitted on TODAY’s YouTube channel that Drive to Survive makes him cringe.
Sure, the Netflix series turbocharged Formula 1’s global reach, turning casual fans into die-hards and bringing the high-speed action to screens everywhere. But while fans are binge-watching every dramatic cutaway and fiery team radio moment, Wolff’s reaction is… less enthusiastic. He shared,
I get to see some of the clips that involve the teams beforehand. Hearing or watching it yourself, it makes me cringe a lot, and you just have to cope with it, and in some way, you know that others are watching.
For Wolff, the over-dramatization feels off-track.
And he’s not exactly glued to social media either. A rare breed in today’s hyper-connected world, Wolff views the show (and its fandom) from the outside looking in.
It’s not arrogance, though. For him, fame is just part of the job. He admitted,
I haven’t got TikTok or Instagram so I don’t see that. It’s a strange thing because I’m looking at it like an observer in that situation. When you’re a sportsperson, you grow up with a certain degree of recognizability, or you know, fame, or whatever celebrity – and it becomes the complete normality, which the risk of you being arrogant, and thinking this is the way it goes.
So while Drive to Survive has fans hooked on F1’s behind-the-scenes drama, Toto Wolff’s steering clear of the hype. And his honesty about it is as raw as racing gets.
Toto Wolff shuts down rumors of Mercedes losing Ineos stake
Toto Wolff shut down rumors that Mercedes F1 is losing Ineos stake. Despite whispers of tension with billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Wolff made it clear: “Never a consideration.”
Speculation sparked when Mercedes’ 2025 livery ditched the signature Ineos red from last season’s design. That absence had fans wondering if Ratcliffe’s 30 percent stake was on thin ice. But Wolff insisted the bond remains unbreakable, calling the trio of Mercedes, Ratcliffe, and himself the three amigos.
The Telegraph hinted at behind-the-scenes clashes and possible financial shakeups, but Wolff wasn’t buying it. He added,
We have had projects together. Nothing you read in the news will change anything.
Mercedes also confirmed the partnership remains ongoing and stable. With the team valued at nearly $4 billion, Ratcliffe’s stake still packs a serious punch – over $1 billion, to be exact.
Watch Drive to Survive on Netflix.
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