Mercedes' plans changed for Japanese GP: Wolff present after all

After the Australian Grand Prix, it was announced that Mercedes would travel to Suzuka, where the Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled, without their team principal. Toto Wolff, the team's team boss and CEO, has changed his mind, and is going to come to the weekend after all. At first, Wolff was only scheduled to relay things remotely.

The F1 calendar seems to be getting fuller by the year. With 24 races scheduled in 2024, teams have started rotating personnel. It has been revealed that team principal Wolff will indeed be present at the fourth round of the world championship in Japan. There was initial talk that the possible absence was due to the poor start.

Indeed, Mercedes did not get off to a good start to the new Formula 1 season. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton scored just 26 points in the past three races. In Australia, things went completely wrong for the team. Hamilton had to retire his car halfway through the race, but Russell did not make it to the end either. He stalled on the track on the last lap of the race after crashing.

Hamilton, who leaves for Ferrari after this season, is still in the hunt for his eighth Formula 1 world title. However, Mercedes is already 71 points behind the team of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Wolff and consorts also have to make do with fourth place in the constructors' championship, but perhaps that will change in Japan.