Mercedes recruiting Red Bull’s Ex-COO has brought them a ‘strong edge,’ claims Toto Wolff

Jayne Poole who once served as Red Bull's COO has joined Mercedes over the winter, and according to Toto Wolff, this has given them a 'strong edge'

Mercedes recruiting Red Bull’s Ex-COO has brought them a ‘strong edge,’ claims Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff (left, image via: Planet F1) and Christian Horner, Jayne Poole (right, image via: Motorsport.com)

Mercedes determined to reclaim their Formula One dominance, have taken a bold step by hiring former COO, Jayne Poole of their foe squad, Red Bull. Poole has been engaged as a special advisor to the Mercedes team to assist drive improvements. According to team principal Toto Wolff, her arrival has been a game changer.

The Mercedes boss expressed his admiration for Jayne Poole’s accomplishments over the past decade. “Jayne is a person that I admired over the last 10 years, that I got to know 10 years ago, and I always had a very respectful relationship with,” he said. Despite working for a rival team, Toto Wolff believes in recognizing and respecting the talent of individuals within the sport. He attributed a significant part of Red Bull’s success to Poole’s role as COO, making her a valuable asset to Mercedes.

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Wolff sees Poole’s presence as a significant advantage for Mercedes. According to him, “Having her eyes is a very, very strong edge to the organization.” He emphasized the importance of incorporating external insights even within a prosperous team. “Now and then, if an organization becomes mature and follows its processes and strategies, and it’s successful, you need to get an outside perspective, and you need to shake it up,” Wolff explained. He believes that Poole’s fresh perspective, unencumbered by the team’s internal dynamics, allows for a neutral evaluation of their infrastructure. 

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Toto Wolff says he had always been eyeing signing Jayne Poole

Toto Wolff and Jayne Poole
Toto Wolff and Jayne Poole (Credits: F1World)

Mercedes’ hiring of Poole comes at a vital time for the team. Mercedes hopes to go to the head of the pack with the premiere of their modified W14 in Monaco, following the postponement of its planned debut in Imola. The team has fallen short of expectations this season, falling behind its customer, Aston Martin, and is presently third in the rankings. Their dismal performance has resulted in only one podium position, courtesy of Lewis Hamilton‘s second-place finish in Australia.

Poole’s addition was not a last-minute decision. “I wanted to hire Jayne for a long time, but it was just never an option,” Wolff says. And then it was today.” Wolff had wanted her to join the team for a long time, but circumstances had not aligned until now. Poole’s experience extends beyond her work as COO, with a wealth of information and a great grasp of the sport. According to Wolff, “She has a lot of know-how, she’s a great psychologist, she has seen another organization, she knows everybody pretty much, and she has created forensic profiles of all of the good people in Formula 1.”

The addition of Poole to the Mercedes squad is viewed as a strategic move to boost the team’s competitiveness. Poole’s observations will assist direct the team to success by examining the strengths and limitations of their existing infrastructure. Mercedes has a deep awareness of who possesses the essential talents to boost their performance thanks to her diligent appraisal of brilliant individuals inside the sport. It remains to be seen if the German squad will catch Poole’s former team, Red Bull this season.

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