Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff warns of possible consequences of Trump’s tariff policy for Formula 1 – He believes his team is well prepared for the moment
The tariff measures imposed by the US government under President Donald Trump have had a significant impact on the global economic climate, particularly the automotive industry, and have caused unrest. Formula 1 has not been left unaffected.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff emphasizes that his team has not been “affected yet.” He describes the current situation for Mercedes-AMG Petronas as stable, but admits that the economic conditions could change at any time. The situation remains dynamic and potentially risky.
The uncertainty among US partners is particularly noticeable, as Wolff explains: “You can clearly see a negative mood among some of our partners in the US because they don’t know what these tariffs mean for their business and how the geopolitical situation will affect them in the long term.”
Wolff: A kind of “socio-economic experiment”
Wolff, who has a background in finance, describes the current global economic situation as a kind of “socio-economic experiment” and reveals: “It’s quite entertaining to read CNN and then Fox News and try to figure out what’s actually happening. I shouldn’t even be saying that.”
The situation does not make work any easier. However, Mercedes is well positioned thanks to its own production presence in the United States. “Yes, it’s a very dynamic situation with regard to the increased car tariffs. But we also have production in the US, so we have a pretty strong presence there. That helps us cushion the situation to a certain extent,” explains Wolff.
In addition, the Mercedes Formula 1 team has “a group of great partners” and Mercedes-Benz is “100 percent behind Formula 1,” emphasizes the Austrian. In this context, he also explicitly mentions Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius.
What the tariff policy could mean for Formula 1
“Ola certainly has his hands full steering the ship through this storm, and there is no better person than him to do it. That’s why we had hoped to cheer him up a little, at least on a Sunday.” But a podium finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was not to be.
As a globally operating racing series, Formula 1 is heavily dependent on international supply chains. Many components – from the chassis to high-tech electronics – come from different parts of the world. Additional tariffs could drive up import costs for crucial materials and make production more expensive.
At the same time, there are growing concerns that economic uncertainties will affect sponsorship deals and investments, especially for partners with a strong US presence. For Mercedes, as for other teams, it will become increasingly important to respond flexibly to economic developments.
