Toto Wolff arrives at Silverstone in a $3.5m Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

Toto Wolff drew more attention than most drivers at Silverstone on Friday, arriving at the paddock behind the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing — a classic coupe produced between 1954 and 1957 and valued online at between $1.3 million and $3.5 million.

The hard-top Gullwing is the predecessor to the 300 SL Roadster that Wolff and his wife, F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff, are regularly spotted driving around Monte Carlo. For the British Grand Prix weekend, the Mercedes team principal opted for the rarer coupe variant, which is powered by a three-litre straight-six engine producing 215 horsepower, capable of reaching 62mph in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 160mph.

The car slots into an already remarkable collection. Wolff is understood to own a Mercedes-AMG ONE, a Ferrari F40, a Ferrari Enzo, a LaFerrari, and a Mercedes-Benz SL 65, among others.

The arrival did not go unnoticed by fans online. “To me, that’s one of the most beautiful cars ever made,” one Reddit user wrote, with another placing it alongside the Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 250 GTO, and Aston Martin DB5 as all-time design icons.

Not everyone was focused purely on the aesthetics. Given Wolff’s imposing frame, several observers questioned how comfortably the Mercedes boss could actually fit inside the low-slung coupe. “He’s way too tall for that car. Looks terribly uncomfortable,” one commenter noted, a sentiment echoed by several others who pointed out that his knees and head appeared to be at their absolute limits.

One fan offered a more cinematic take: “He is such a Bond villain. Between this kinda aura and his doing videos in a black turtleneck. Would definitely be threatening the world in a Bond movie.”

Wolff’s paddock entrance came ahead of the sole practice session and sprint qualifying at Silverstone, where Mercedes will be hoping to build on recent form as the second half of the season approaches.