Sep.29 (GMM) Toto Wolff’s absence from the Azerbaijan GP had a family explanation – the Mercedes boss was following nine-year-old son Jack’s karting season in Italy.
Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger was there for the same reason, with his own son Johan racing against Jack.
Berger, 67, told Osterreich that he and Wolff now cross paths regularly at karting events. “We run into each other regularly,” he told the newspaper this week.
“And we don’t just talk about karting. Lukas and Mathias, Niki’s sons, often join us too.”
Berger said following his son has become an important personal project: “I’ve made it my mission.”
“For me, this is a chance to pass something on and build a close relationship with one of my children.”
The Austrian also reflected on how much junior racing has changed.
“During the half hour we’re chatting, my nine-year-old son is sitting over there studying data,” Berger revealed.
“Which brings us back to the excellent training that boys need these days.”
Berger was also asked about Wolff’s Mercedes star Kimi Antonelli.
“You can’t compare Kimi to Max or Senna yet,” he insisted. “He still has a long way to go.”
“But with his speed, his ease, his youth, and his refreshing personality, he’s the new star in Formula 1.”
“If nothing extraordinary happens, he’ll be world champion this year. I’ll be happy for Kimi and for Toto.”
Berger remains less enthusiastic about one aspect of the new-generation Formula 1 cars.
“What bothers me is that overtaking is no longer about braking, no longer a suicide manoeuvre, but pure energy management,” said Berger.
“That’s why I’m happy every day that I was racing during Formula 1’s golden age.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES