Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will miss the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to attend his eldest son Benedict’s graduation in the United States.
It is his second absence of 2025 after sitting out Suzuka earlier in the year.
Delegated Duties
In Wolff’s stead, communications chief Bradley Lord becomes the public face of the squad trackside, while the usual engineering hierarchy carries out race-weekend operations.
Strong Start Eases Concern
Mercedes have begun 2025 with four podiums, and George Russell is considered an outside threat to the McLaren duo.
Wolff praised the W16’s “more balanced” character but emphasised the need for continued updates.
Schedule Fatigue
With 24 races on the calendar, Wolff has long argued that senior staff skipping occasional events is both inevitable and healthy.
“We’re over the limit,” he told ORF last season, noting mechanics suffer most from relentless travel.
Strategic Focus
Mercedes plan a series of upgrades through the early European rounds, hoping to exploit any slip-ups from McLaren.
Big Picture
Wolff’s occasional absences underscore a modern reality: top-level F1 management can operate remotely thanks to advanced data links and well-defined delegation.
If results maintain their upward trajectory, few will question his decision to prioritise family milestones.
The post Toto Wolff’s forced to miss 2025 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .
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