P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff’s motivation for publicising his new Mercedes contract was to stop any speculation he might be “part-time” or leave altogether, according to Craig Slater.
According to The Telegraph, Wolff has signed a new three-year deal to continue as team principal of Mercedes and also retains ownership of 33% of the F1 team. The announcement is seen as a response to rumors of him leaving his position. Wolff has previously mentioned the possibility of reducing the number of races he attends but has expressed his long-term commitment to the team as a co-owner. Speculation about his relationship with Daimler, the one-third owner, is reportedly unfounded. The decision to publicly announce the deal was made to eliminate any doubt about his role and provide confidence to the team. Mercedes aims to challenge Red Bull this season with the unveiling of their W15 challenger on February 14.
