The battle between all 10 Formula 1 team principals in the paddock is typically fought on the track.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown may not fulfil that role within the team, with Brown a huge fan of Andrea Stella in that position, but more often than not he can be found on the pit wall during race weekends keeping a close eye on what’s happening.
It’s a partnership that’s worked brilliantly this season, with McLaren on the cusp of winning their first Constructors’ Championship this century.
McLaren have a 21-point lead over their closest rivals Ferrari heading into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull are no longer in contention despite Max Verstappen already wrapping up his fourth title due to Sergio Perez’s underperformance.
Lando Norris has had the best season of his F1 career and even know he may be disappointed that he couldn’t take the challenge to Verstappen until the season finale, he could still come away from this season with some silverware.
Brown was speaking with former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner on The Red Flags Podcast.
The pair discussed a variety of topics before the question came up about which team principal would win a Royal Rumble-style fight between all 10 bosses.
Brown admitted that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff would be a very formidable opponent.
The giant Austrian is typically very mild-mannered, although there have been certain occasions in the Mercedes garage where he’s shown he wouldn’t want to be messed with.
Zak Brown thinks Toto Wolff would win F1 team principal Royal Rumble
Brown and Steiner were talking about the lack of drama in the pit lane typically and the McLaren boss said: “We need more fights in Formula 1. We definitely need some NASCAR style.”
He joked: “Maybe we should have a fight this weekend!”
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They were then asked who would win in the team principal Octagon and Brown said: “Toto’s a pretty big guy!”
Steiner then said: “He’s pretty well trained as well!”
Toto Wolff set for emotional end to the 2024 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
While Wolff might be a formidable presence in the Formula 1 paddock, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is likely to be a time of reflection for the 52-year-old.
After 12 seasons, Lewis Hamilton will be leaving Mercedes to take up a position at rivals Ferrari in 2025.
Eddie Jordan has told Ferrari to rip up Hamilton’s contract, but a rejuvenated seven-time world champion could be a very different force from the one driving for the Silver Arrows right now.
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Wolff has backed Hamilton’s replacement Kimi Antonelli to succeed as his long-term successor, but managing the expectations of the Italian teenager is going to be vitally important to his development.
The anger Wolff showed after the 2021 race in Abu Dhabi might be why Brown and Steiner would fancy a scrap with the Mercedes boss.
He will be hoping he’s not quite as irate at the end of this season’s final race on Sunday.
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