Roads of Redemption | F1 | Toto Wolff

10.1 | Get Right With Me.

"You shouldn't be here," Sebastian warned beside me, his voice low and serious as he watched the preparations for the recording with Lewis and George.

"Says who?" I replied with a nonchalant smile, even though I knew exactly what he meant. It was clear he was alluding to Christian's recent statement about the team needing to focus solely on internal matters and how any external distraction could disrupt everyone's balance.

I took a deep breath, and after a brief silence, I looked at him. "I know," I murmured, acknowledging his concern. "But only you guys know I'm here." I gestured subtly toward Lewis and George, still unaware of my presence. "They haven't even noticed I arrived. Besides, there are only three races left—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi. I can handle it."

Sebastian held my gaze for a few seconds, as if trying to read my intentions, but then he relaxed slightly. He just nodded, accepting, albeit reluctantly, my stubbornness.

Initially, the idea was that, in addition to the YouTube and Instagram clips, we would film a longer video featuring a chat about the topic. We had a well-structured script, but it quickly became clear that it made no sense for me to conduct the interview. The focus would inevitably shift to the fact that I was collaborating with a rival team—a detail impossible to ignore—and, of course, to my past. Not that my past was the biggest issue; it was actually the least of my concerns. But the first point weighed more heavily.

Given that, doubts began to arise. How could we avoid the main topic getting lost amidst so many unplanned questions? How could we keep the attention on what really mattered when my presence alone was already a deviation from what we had proposed? I knew that, for others, the line between professional and personal was far too blurred.

So, we decided to change direction...

"Only three more races," he mused, leaving the phrase hanging. "Does that mean you've already made up your mind?"—curiosity sparkled in his eyes.

I just shook my head. "I love working with Max and Checo. So whatever I decide, it's going to be tough."

"Staying at Red Bull," he began, then quickly shifted: "Or going to Mercedes..."

I cut in quickly, laughing: "No."

He stared at me for a moment, then continued thoughtfully: "So just sticking to the project then?"

"Is there something else I don't know about?" he ventured, with a playful grin.

"That's a story for another time," I deflected, noticing they were calling him. "Look, they're waiting for you," I added, pointing in the direction of Lewis and George. "Duty calls."

In the end, we decided it was better for him to record with the guys.

I stepped back discreetly but chose a strategic spot where I could watch them and listen in without being noticed. I pulled a notebook out of my bag. Yes, a notebook. I'm old school. There's nothing like writing by hand. The sound of the pen on paper, the weight of the words solidifying ideas—it makes everything feel more real, as if thoughts are taking concrete shape right there as I write them.

Lewis spoke passionately about the importance of mental health amidst the constant pressures of the sport. He described how therapy and meditation had become essential for managing his anxieties and even encouraged everyone to seek help when needed. George, in turn, emphasized the significance of psychological support, mentioning how sessions with psychologists had impacted both his performance and personal life. Seb, as serious as ever, argued that mental health still doesn't receive the attention it deserves in F1. For him, it should be treated with the same priority as physical health, and the sport's culture needs to evolve in that regard.