OFF TO THE RACES

Modern F1 cars zip around at more than 200 miles per hour thanks to cutting-edge 1,000-horsepower engines, but humans have long been rushing from point A to point B. A brief history of racing through the centuries: to English mares. It spreads to America, too, with the three legs of the Triple Crown— the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes—all established by the late 1800s. new F1 stars, including the charismatic Wolff with his militaristic metaphors, fiery competitiveness and oddly specific breakfast order. (“Ham and eggs. With a little bacon and two pumpernickels, really toasted so they break.”)

And F1 will only get bigger this year when it adds a third U.S. Grand Prix in Las Vegas in November. (Miami and Austin, Texas, already host events.)

“The sport’s growing,” Wolff says, “but you must not take it for granted.” racing is the most popular sport in Caesar’s time. Romans flock to the city’s Circus

He’s not taking Mercedes’ good fortune lightly, either, securing a lucrative future even without being world champion. Sponsorships remain the most important revenue stream; Mercedes counts Ritz-Carlton, Monster Energy drinks and watch brand IWC among its partners. It also sells equipment to other teams, including gearboxes to Aston Martin. That doesn’t mean Wolff has any plans to slow his push for wins.

Maximus stadium to watch twoand four-horse teams square off on as many as 60 race days a year.

1700s | Thoroughbred racing takes over England after three speedy Arabian horses are imported from the Middle East and bred

1920s | Southern moonshiners who souped up their cars to evade the G-men soon begin racing one another at local fairgrounds and tracks. Later on, a driver named Bill France convenes the leading motorists in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1947 and establishes the National Association for Stock Car Racing—Nascar.

“As long as we are competing at the front, racing for victories, being among the top teams,” he says. “Nobody can expect us to win every single year.”

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