Mercedes details how Wolff navigated Japan-Qatar F1 absences

Mercedes has been forced to adjust its set-up across the last two races with Toto Wolff absent following knee surgery.

The Team Principal of the Brackley-based squad has been working from home as he continues to recover but has still been in constant contact with the Mercedes team across the race weekends.

In his place, several people have carried out his role including Mercedes' Motorsport Communications Director Bradley Lord.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Lord described that Wolff's absence has had no negative bearing on the team's operation.

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

“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.”

Mercedes endured a difficult race last time out in Qatar as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came together on the opening lap.

Hamilton immediately retired from the race while Russell managed to continue and eventually crossed the line in fourth.

The Briton was dwelling on the incident over the team radio, with Wolff intervening by calling in from his home set-up, which mirrors the one he usually has during the race weekend at the track.

“He’s in Monaco,” Lord said. “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.”