(Motorsport-Total.com) – Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff caused a stir on Friday of the Formula 1 weekend in Silverstone in the paddock. Together with his wife Susie Wolff, the managing director of the F1 Academy, the Austrian appeared in the paddock with a classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing.
Read more Antonelli still believes in the World Championship title despite the Silverstone fiasco
While the couple often drives a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster in Monte Carlo, the choice for the British Grand Prix fell on the closed Gullwing version.
The model, produced between 1954 and 1957, is powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine delivering 215 hp. The sports car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of around 257 km/h. Depending on condition and history, the value of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing is estimated at about 1.3 to 3.5 million US dollars.
The 300 SL is just one of several extraordinary vehicles Wolff is said to own. His collection includes, among others, a Mercedes AMG ONE, a Ferrari F40, a Ferrari Enzo, a LaFerrari, and a Mercedes-Benz SL 65.
Historic Mercedes becomes a topic of conversation
Not surprisingly, Wolff’s appearance in the historic Mercedes also causes numerous reactions on social media. “For me, this is one of the most beautiful cars ever built,” writes a user on Reddit. Another adds: “This car, the E Type, the 250 GTO, and the DB5 are all among the most beautiful vehicles ever for me. Absolutely stunning.”
Read more Toto Wolff on Safety Car End: «2021 would have been more important …»
Wolff’s appearance was also humorously commented on by some fans. “He looks like a villain from a James Bond film. With that aura and the videos in the black turtleneck, he could easily threaten the world,” comments another user.
Others focus on Wolff’s height. “He is way too tall for this car. That looks incredibly uncomfortable,” was one comment. Other users write: “Great car, but he is definitely too tall for it,” as well as: “Impressive that he can even fit into the car with his height.”
The appearance of the Mercedes team boss thus became one of the topics of conversation in the paddock and once again underlined the special fascination that the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL still exerts decades after its market launch.
Read more Tracklimits: Stroll collects three penalties in Silverstone in just 9 laps