Wolff a ‘strong presence’ at Mercedes despite absence

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Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was physically absent from the Brackley squad’s garage in Japan and in Qatar but virtually omnipresent in the team at every session and debrief.

Wolff was forced to take a leave of absence in the wake of a long overdue knee operation that required several weeks of recovery and rehabilitation.

As a consequence, the Austrian’s lanky figure was missing from his command post in the Mercedes garage at Suzuka and Lusail where assistant team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio took over part of Wolff’s responsibilities on the ground.

However, thanks to a remote set-up, the Mercedes boss was able to follow his team’s every move from the comfort of his home in Monaco and intervene whenever necessary as he indeed did in Qatar where Wolff chimed in over the radio to encourage George Russell to collect his thoughts and press on in the wake of his first corner clash with Lewis Hamilton.

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“He’s in Monaco,” explained Mercedes Communications Director Bradley Lord. “The doctors after his knee surgery before Japan advised him not to not to jump on the plane but just to rest his knee so that he's fit and well for the last five races.

“He’s got exactly the setup that we have in the garages at home and so he's able to follow in real-time and participate in real-time as well.”

©Mercedes

Lord said that Wolff, who is expected to return to his command post at next week’s US Grand Prix in Austin, was able during the last two race weekend’s to tune in and take part in every debrief session with the team from the comfort of his home.

“He’s been in every meeting, virtually in all of the strategy discussions and then debriefs as well,” said Lord.

“So he's not been physically here but has been a strong presence in the team. So from that point of view, it's run as normally as it can be when he's not been able to travel.

“But he's played his usual part in all of those discussions as well.”

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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.