Toto Wolff is one of the most successful team principals of all time in Formula 1, so it makes sense that the Austrian would see similarities between himself and the greats of other sports.
Pep Guardiola was spotted by Martin Brundle on his grid walk in Abu Dhabi, and was also filmed deep in conversation with Wolff over the course of the race weekend.
The Spaniard is a footballing legend on and off of the pitch, winning a bucketload of trophies as a player with Barcelona and Spain, before establishing himself as one of the best managers of all times with the Catalan giants, as well as Bayern Munich and his current employers Manchester City.
Wolff has explained that he sees elements of his management in Guardiola’s style and vice versa, claiming that the Spaniard will play a part in his career going forward.
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“The two of us, we didn’t know each other but when I heard him talking, it was like my sentences, the same approach, and he said the same about me,” explained the Mercedes boss.
“Fundamentally, it’s down to human management, and he is someone that is certainly going to be part of my journey.”
Guardiola refused to discuss football during his awkward interview with Martin Brundle prior to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the Manchester City manager will face one of the toughest tests of his career this season, as his team must overcome a five point deficit to Arsenal should they wish to retain their Premier League title.
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The football season is currently halted due to the Qatar World Cup, but Guardiola’s men will be back in action on Boxing Day as the season gets back underway.
Mercedes will also face a tough challenge in 2023, as they will have to recover from their dismal 2022 season and beat both Red Bull and Ferrari, should they wish to return to championship winning glory.
Ferrari will be subject to a transition period following the appointment of Fred Vasseur as team principal, while Red Bull will have to build a championship winning car with a significant reduction of wind tunnel testing time as punishment for their breach of the 2021 cost cap.