Source: REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
[Saba Sports News] The 2025 F1 season will return to Europe this week. Before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix begins, soul figure of the Mercedes team Toto Wolff unexpectedly missed the event. It is reported that this Austrian chose to remain in the United States for his eldest son’s graduation ceremony, handing over command to Chief PR Officer Bradley Lord. This marks the second time Wolff has been absent this season, hinting at his long-planned “exit plan”—according to multiple reporters and insiders, the Mercedes team is secretly grooming a new generation of management. Last year, Wolff publicly criticized the bloated calendar on Austrian TV, stating that 24 races exceed human limits and severely disrupt the personal lives of team members. Data shows that the total global travel distance for all F1 teams during the 2025 season will exceed 500,000 kilometers; even executives traveling in business class find it difficult, let alone technicians seated in economy class. Before this season began, Wolff had already revealed his ultimate plan to the press: “Future participation in only 15 races, but now is not the time to let go.” This gradual delegation of authority was confirmed at the Imola Grand Prix, where Lord not only handles media communications but also participates directly in strategy meetings, seen as important trials for the future successor.