F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Wolff absent from Qatar GP but 'present in every meeting'

Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff is missing his second race in succession this weekend after undergoing a knee operation, but the Austrian is remotely present in every meeting insists Lewis Hamilton.

Wolff’s absence in Japan two weeks ago - where assistant team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio picked up the bulk of the Austrian responsibilities - was planned well in advance.

However, Wolff had hoped that his rehabilitation period would be short lived and that he would be standing post in Qatar. But that isn’t the case.

But Hamilton made it a point of revealing that Wolff was and will be present in every meeting and debrief conducted by the team over the course of the weekend.

Read also:

“Toto's in every meeting,” said the seven-time world champion. “I saw someone wrote the other day that he had to call in or something for the last race... it was BS.

"Toto, even though he is not here in person - he is obviously devastated he can't be here - he is a part of every single meeting.

“He dialed into the meeting today, he will dial into the meeting tomorrow morning, he'll be in the meeting in the afternoon.”

Hamilton suggested that while he’s working remote, Wolff’s involvement is as active as it typically is on a race weekend.

“He is on the comms just like the guys back at the factory are on the comms for strategy on the weekend,” said the Briton.

“He is still 100 per cent full a part, he's just not physically here in the country, but he is still a part of those meetings, he speaks in all the meetings as he does when he's here.

“He has worked incredibly hard to set up this team to be where it is today and he should be able to have weekends off without a problem - he is the boss.

“I just tell him we will be pushing and not to worry.”

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Sao Paulo GP: Saturday's action in pictures

Saturday's proceedings were cut short due to a heavy rain storm rolling into Sao Paulo…

1 hour ago

Sao Paulo GP qualifying postponed after repeated delays

The FIA has postponed Saturday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session due to adverse weather…

2 hours ago

McLaren: Team orders always ‘make life difficult for ourselves’

McLaren's successful 1-2 finish in the Brazilian Sprint race came with a dose of complexity,…

4 hours ago

Verstappen demoted to P4 following VSC infringement in Sprint

Max Verstappen has been demoted from third to fourth in the final standings of Saturday’s…

5 hours ago

Norris thanks Piastri for handing Sprint win, but not ‘proud’

Lando Norris secured victory in Saturday's Sprint event in Sao Paulo thanks to a McLaren…

6 hours ago

São Paulo GP: Norris handed sprint win by Piastri

McLaren clinched a valuable 1-2 sweep of the São Paulo sprint race, with polesitter Oscar…

7 hours ago