Toto Wolff to Miss Imola Grand Prix for Personal Milestone, Mercedes Continue Building Momentum
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff will not be in attendance at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend, as he remains in the United States to celebrate a significant personal event—his eldest son Benedict’s graduation. Following his visit to the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month, Wolff chose to extend his stay in America to mark the special occasion with his son, who is from a previous marriage.
This marks the second race Wolff will be absent from during the 2025 Formula 1 season. Earlier in the year, he also missed the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. Additionally, he sat out the 2023 São Paulo Grand Prix, showing a pattern of occasional absences when personal commitments take precedence. Despite not being physically present, Wolff remains deeply involved in the team’s overall strategy and operations.
In his absence at Imola, Mercedes’ senior leadership will take the reins. Chief Communications Officer Bradley Lord will act as the team’s main spokesperson and coordinate on-site responsibilities, ensuring a seamless operation throughout the race weekend. The team’s technical and sporting decisions will continue to be guided by the strong leadership structure Wolff has cultivated over the years.
As the F1 calendar shifts into its European phase, Mercedes finds itself in a promising position. The 2025 season has so far been a step forward for the Silver Arrows, thanks to the improved performance and consistency of the W16 car. The team has already recorded four podium finishes in the first six races, with George Russell showing particularly strong form. Russell’s performance has placed him in the conversation as a potential title contender, challenging the early dominance of McLaren and putting pressure on other top teams.
Looking ahead to the Imola weekend and beyond, Toto Wolff shared his thoughts on the team’s progress and the road ahead. “After six races, we’ve taken away some key positives,” Wolff said. “The W16 is a clear step forward compared to last year, and we’ve seen encouraging results with four trips to the podium. But our goal isn’t just to compete—we want to win. To do that, there’s still work ahead.”
Wolff emphasized that Mercedes is continuing to push the limits of development. With the European rounds traditionally providing the opportunity for teams to introduce major upgrades, Mercedes is prepared to bring several performance enhancements to the upcoming races in hopes of closing the gap to the frontrunners.
“The next phase of the season is crucial. The team has been working tirelessly back at the factory, and we’ll be rolling out updates over the coming races that we believe can make a real difference,” Wolff noted.
He also acknowledged the fierce level of competition on the grid this year, stating, “Formula 1 is always about the smallest margins. We know that our rivals won’t be standing still. Everyone will be bringing upgrades, and it’ll be fascinating to see how those changes translate into performance on the track.”
Although he won’t be at the circuit this weekend, Wolff will be watching closely as Mercedes aims to continue their upward trajectory. With a more competitive car and a motivated driver pairing, the team hopes to strengthen its momentum at Imola and continue clawing its way back into championship contention.
Wolff’s temporary absence won’t dampen Mercedes’ ambitions. If anything, it highlights the depth of leadership within the team, and their collective drive to return to the top of Formula 1.
