Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is to miss a race for the first time in six years this weekend as he will not travel to Interlagos for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

“Brazil will be the first race since 2013 that I won’t attend,” confirmed Wolff ahead of this weekend’s race. Mercedes has already won the constructors’ championship and Lewis Hamilton sealed the drivers’ title at the last round.

“With both championships secured, it gives me more time in Europe to focus on other open topics,” he said. “It’s great to be able to do this and to know that the team will represent the three-pointed star in the best way possible both on and off the track.”

Mercedes celebrated their sixth consecutive sweep of the championships at their engine and chassis facilities in the UK last week.

“The 1,500 men and women that form this amazing team and made this extraordinary success possible,” said Wolff. “It is always a special moment and this year’s was particularly special as our sixth consecutive double sets a new benchmark in our sport.

“But despite this record-breaking achievement, I still feel a lot of hunger and desire for more achievements. There’s no sense of complacency, everybody is still determined to keep on improving. It’s an inspiring group of people that fully lives up to the Mercedes aspiration of being the best.

“We have two races to go in the 2019 season and we want to end this season on a high.”

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2019 F1 season