Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to miss Japanese Grand Prix once again: “It’s a coincidence, it’s not a jet leg”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will not attend the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix. Unlike at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he was seen hugging George Russell after his race, Wolff won’t be present to cheer on him and the rookie, Kimi Antonelli. Instead, he will reportedly take some time off and will be represented by a colleague at the race. The third race of the new Formula 1 season is scheduled to begin at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan on April 4.Interestingly, Wolff had also skipped the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix due to knee surgery and was absent from the event last year as well. He tends to miss a few races each season, like giving the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo last November a miss. Mercedes has confirmed that Wolff will be working remotely to manage the demands of the hectic 24-race calendar.During his absence, Wolff will be represented by Chief Communications Officer Bradley Lord, who will attend the race, support the team, and speak with the media in Suzuka. Wolff is expected to return to support his team at the next race in Bahrain, scheduled for April 11-13.According to PlanetF1, when Wolff was asked if he would travel to Japan, he responded, "No. Bradley is the team representative – and he speaks more cleverly than me! It’s a coincidence that I’m missing that [race] again. It’s not the jet lag." Confirming this, Bradley Lord told the portal in an earlier interview, "We’re in constant dialogue about the race weekend and how it’s going. So the technical team and the sporting team are in the lead. Toto is not stepping in and trying to fly the plane but observing what’s happening and providing helpful inputs."Also Read: “George is a warrior, in and outside the car”: Toto Wolff praises George Russell as F1's best three drivers following outstanding Chinese GP displayThe 2025 season has started off strong for Mercedes despite Lewis Hamilton's departure. 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who filled Hamilton's seat, has already proven his skill by finishing 4th at the rain-soaked Australian GP and 8th at the following Chinese Grand Prix. Meanwhile, George Russell has been performing exceptionally well, securing podium finishes in both races. He clinched third place in both Melbourne and Shanghai.