JULY 19, 2013

Mercedes backs Wolff amid Kolles comments saga

Mercedes has thrown its "full confidence" behind Toto Wolff, following reports he made disparaging remarks about his colleagues and bosses.

The German magazine Sport Bild this week claimed Wolff, Mercedes' new F1 co-owner and motor sport director, spoke negatively about Dieter Zetsche, Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda during a conversation in February with former HRT boss Colin Kolles.

Mercedes initially declined to comment.

But parent Daimler's head of global communications Jorg Howe has now been quoted as saying: "He (Wolff) has our full confidence and will continue his successful work.

"We know that formula one is a shark tank," Howe told Germany's Sport1. "If you are successful, you will be pelted with mud."

(GMM)