Toto Wolff, Mercedes Formula 1 boss, spoke about how to find the balance between fun and ambition for his son Jack, after the nine-year-old boy won a kart race in Italy.
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The young competitor is competing in the IAME Karting Series, and recently achieved a victory that put him in the lead of the championship before the end of the calendar.
Speaking on the subject, the Austrian executive and proud father drew comparisons between the junior categories and F1. “This is where it all starts. Formula 1 is basically that, just ‘turbocharged’. It’s the same kind of racing, and following the kids is an amazing experience,” he said.
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At the event, Jack Wolff was asked if he felt the pressure of the championship, simply answering “yes”. Commenting on his son’s response, Wolff acknowledged it is difficult to deal with the emotional involvement while trying to create a healthy environment for a young driver.
“It’s important to find the right balance because, obviously, as a father, you are emotionally involved, and that is totally normal. But he is nine years old; there are many young children and you have to get it right, and we try. Sometimes we get it wrong. There are tough moments, he went through some today, but in the end, it all adds up, and every little failure serves as a lesson for the future,” he concluded.
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