F1 CEO Opens Up About Their Mental Health

The Mercedes team principal has opened up about his own mental health struggles in a candid interview with The Times and how “high profile people” need to be more open about their mental health. Wolff became professionally engaged with F1 when he bought a stake in Williams. He later joined Mercedes in 2013.

Wolff is one of the few F1 personalities who have opened up about their mental health issues recently.

Last year, 22-year-old racer Lando Norris described how the pressure of the sport “took its toll” and said he was “depressed a lot of the time” to Sky Sports.

Wolff, who has “suffered mentally”, said: “High profile people who seem to have everything but are struggling, I think we have an obligation to say we’re getting help and it’s ok to get help.

“I’ve been going to a psychiatrist since 2004. I think I’ve had more than 500 hours [of therapy]. I have suffered mentally and I still do.”

Dr Brad Brenner from WithTherapy has explained why high performers are more likely to struggle with mental health issues.

He wrote: “Gruelling hours, constant criticism from others, including strangers, and a loss of the identity you once possessed can open the door to mental health conditions such as depression.”

“There’s also the perception — and sometimes reality — of constant competition and failure doesn’t seem to be an option."

Lewis Hamilton is another star who has struggled with his mental health.

He revealed on social media during the height of the pandemic in 2020 that he had been struggling.

He wrote: “Gruelling hours, constant criticism from others, including strangers, and a loss of the identity you once possessed can open the door to mental health conditions such as depression.

“So I’m grateful for the ones closest to me helping me to keep a balance, even if it’s just thru [sic] text, phone or FaceTime."

Wolff is a big advocate of therapy, which he says helped him to get where he is professionally.

“Getting help is a way of overcoming my problems and it has helped me to access untapped potential. I’ve never had a problem with the stigma,” he said.

“Some of the most successful people are very, very sensitive, and very, very sensitive means very, very vulnerable.”

“High profile people who seem to have everything but are struggling, I think we have an obligation to say we’re getting help and it’s ok to get help. Getting help is a way of overcoming my problems and it has helped me to access untapped potential. I’ve never had a problem with the stigma.” - Toto Wolff

I'm sure many of us are F1 fans or at least a fan of F1 Drive to Survive. Toto Wolff has bravely opened up about his own mental health and encouraged people to get help.

It takes courage for leaders and team members to start talking about their own mental health.

If you are looking for a starting point, EQ Consultants has a survey that can help you get started.