Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff to Miss Imola Grand Prix due to...read more

BREAKING: Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff to Miss Imola Grand Prix due to…read more

Mercedes will be without Team Principal Toto Wolff at this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, as he remains in the United States to attend his eldest son’s graduation.

Following his trip to Florida for the Miami Grand Prix, Wolff has opted to stay Stateside to celebrate the milestone with his son, Benedict, from a previous marriage. It marks the second race Wolff will miss this season, having also been absent at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. Last year, he also sat out the São Paulo Grand Prix.

In his absence, the team’s on-site responsibilities will be managed by Mercedes’ senior leadership, with chief communications officer Bradley Lord stepping in as the public face of the team throughout the weekend in Imola.

Momentum Builds for Mercedes

Mercedes enter the European leg of the 2025 Formula 1 season on solid footing. The W16 has proven to be a strong step forward, delivering improved balance and consistent performance. The team has already secured four podium finishes, and George Russell has emerged as a dark horse in the championship fight, challenging the early dominance of McLaren.

Ahead of the race weekend, Wolff reflected on the team’s performance so far and the challenges ahead.

“After six races, we can take away a few clear positives: the W16 is a definite improvement on last year’s car, and we’ve picked up solid results with four podiums,” he said. “But if we want to start winning races, there’s still work to be done.”

“As we head into the European stretch of the season, our focus is on closing that final gap. The team has been pushing hard and we’ll be introducing several upgrades over the coming rounds.”

Wolff also acknowledged the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the importance of continuous development.

“F1 is a game of fine margins, and we know our rivals won’t stand still either. It’ll be fascinating to see how the updates from all teams translate on track.”

With Wolff cheering from afar, Mercedes will look to continue their strong form at Imola and build momentum in what is shaping up to be a closely fought season.