Main content

Toto Wolff, Formula 1 executive

Toto Wolff, Formula 1 executive, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Toto Wolff is CEO and Team Principal of the Mercedes Formula 1 motor racing team. He has led the team to an unprecedented seven consecutive drivers’ championships – six with Lewis Hamilton - and eight consecutive constructors' championships. He is the most successful manager in Formula 1 history, and arguably one of the most successful managers in any sport.

Toto was born Torger Wolff in Vienna. When he was eight his father was diagnosed with a brain tumour and died when Toto was 15. Toto found himself looking after his mother and sister from a young age which he believes contributed to the strength of character he developed as an adult.

Toto's original ambition in motorsport was to be a driver, and he started competing in his late teens. Following the deaths of drivers Ayrton Senna and then Roland Ratzenberger, his sponsor withdrew support, which forced him to give up his dream. He turned his attention to business and made a fortune as an entrepreneur.

In 2009 he bought a stake in the Williams Formula 1 team and four years later bought a 30% stake in the Mercedes team.

Toto is married to the former racing driver Susie Stoddart and they divide their time between the UK and Monaco. Their six-year-old son Jack is already showing an interest in karting.

DISC ONE: Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
DISC TWO: Mama - Genesis
DISC THREE: Money Can’t Buy It - Annie Lennox
DISC FOUR: Iron Sky - Paolo Nutini
DISC FIVE: We Are The Champions – Queen
DISC SIX: Another Day in Paradise - Phil Collins
DISC SEVEN: Fallen - Lauren Wood
DISC EIGHT: The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

BOOK CHOICE: The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
LUXURY ITEM: Diving fins and a mask
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Fallen - Lauren Wood

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley

Available now

36 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Aug 2023 09:00

Music Played

  • Massive Attack

    Unfinished Sympathy

    • Blue Lines.
    • Virgin Catalogue.
    • 6.
  • Genesis

    Mama

    • Genesis.
    • Virgin Catalogue.
    • 1.
  • Annie Lennox

    Money Can't Buy It

    • Diva.
    • RCA Records Label.
    • 6.
  • Paolo Nutini

    Iron Sky

    • Caustic Love.
    • Atlantic Records UK.
    • 8.
  • Queen

    We Are The Champions

    • We Will Rock You.
    • EMI Records Limited.
    • 2.
  • Phil Collins

    Another Day In Paradise

    • .. But Seriously.
    • Virgin Records Ltd.
    • 7.
  • Lauren Wood

    Fallen

    • Cat Trick.
    • Rhino/Warner Records.
    • 7.
  • Frankie Goes to Hollywood

    The Power Of Love

    • Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
    • ZTT Records.
    • 15.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 30 Jul 2023 11:15
  • Fri 4 Aug 2023 09:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast