BREAKING; Toto Wolff Confirmed to Miss Imola F1 Weekend due to…read more
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will be absent from the paddock at this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola but for a heartfelt and personal reason. The 53-year-old Austrian is set to miss his second Formula 1 race of the 2025 season to attend his son’s graduation ceremony in the United States.
Wolff’s absence marks the second time this year he has opted not to travel with the team, having also skipped the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka — a round he has increasingly treated as a routine absence in recent seasons. However, the timing of his decision to miss Imola is particularly notable, as it coincides with young Mercedes protégé Kimi Antonelli’s first-ever home race in Formula 1.
Despite missing such a significant milestone for the team and its rising star, sources within Mercedes confirm Wolff’s decision was fully supported and based on the importance of the family occasion. RacingNews365 reports that Wolff has prioritized his son’s graduation over professional duties this weekend — a move that underscores the balance he seeks between personal life and the high-pressure world of Formula 1.
In Wolff’s absence, Mercedes’ chief communications officer Bradley Lord will once again step in to cover some of the team boss’s trackside responsibilities, as he previously did at Suzuka.
On the sporting front, Mercedes arrives at Imola on a high. George Russell is in strong form, having secured his fourth podium of the season at the Miami Grand Prix, while Antonelli continues to impress with his rapid development — including claiming his first-ever pole position during the Miami sprint weekend. The team currently sits second in the Constructors’ Championship with 141 points, comfortably ahead of Red Bull on 105 and trailing only Oscar Piastri’s McLaren-led campaign in the Drivers’ standings.
Russell remains in close pursuit of championship leader Piastri, trailing by just 38 points, and Mercedes hopes to continue its momentum despite Wolff’s temporary absence.
While fans may miss Wolff’s presence on the pit wall at Imola, the weekend is expected to be a significant one for Mercedes, both in terms of championship implications and Antonelli’s emotional first appearance at his home race a moment that marks another step forward in the team’s future-focused journey.
