Wolff to miss Baku as Domenicali's £7.9M F1 earnings revealed

Toto Wolff will miss the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, leaving Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord in charge. Meanwhile, F1's latest accounts show Stefano Domenicali earned £7.9M in 2025, down from £8.765M, as costs keep climbing.

Why it matters:

Wolff's absence is notable but not unprecedented; he also skipped Suzuka earlier this season. The financial filing reveals the business behind the sport: revenue is growing, but rising expenses are eating into profits. The accounts cover only F1's operational arm, not Liberty Media's commercial rights.

The details:

• Wolff's absence: The Mercedes team principal will skip the Baku GP and follow remotely. Bradley Lord will handle his duties at the circuit.
• Not the first time: Wolff also missed the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka this season. He occasionally steps away, trusting his senior leadership team.
• Domenicali's pay: FOM's annual report shows the highest-paid director received £7.9M in 2025, down from £8.765M. That includes £1.9M from long-term incentive plans and exercised share options.
• F1's finances: FOM's pre-tax profit rose slightly to £20M, with revenue up 9.2% to £429.6M. But freight, travel, TV production, and technical support costs jumped £15M to £207.1M. Headcount grew to 803.

Between the lines:

Domenicali's compensation accounts for a significant share of the £13.3M paid to FOM directors during the year.

What's next:

Mercedes will lean on Bradley Lord to keep operations smooth in Baku. For F1, the accounts show a sport generating more revenue, but the cost of delivering a global championship is rising just as fast.