Mercedes boss Wolff knows where Mercedes need to improve
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
A fifth-place finish as the best result this season is not what Mercedes had hoped for beforehand. Despite a total overhaul of the German team's car, the speed is not (yet) there to compete with Ferrari - let alone the untouchable Red Bull Racing. However, Toto Wolff remains in good spirits, he reveals ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
According to the Austrian, the factory has been working hard on the W15 since the race in Saudi Jeddah. Wolff and his people say they see the potential in the car, but there are areas for improvement. "We have looked competitive in low and medium speed corners but high-speed has been a weakness so far," reported Wolff.
"We have been working hard to understand why our performance hasn't reflected our expectations. Improving that is a major focus. We hope to make some initial progress for Melbourne, and that work will guide our development in the weeks ahead. It's great to feel the energy and determination running through the factories as we work to unlock the potential of the car."
Wolff believes in a better result will come in Melbourne
According to Wolff, Mercedes could have scored more points in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. "We started off each weekend strongly, running our usual practice programmes, but couldn't deliver on that initial promise. With the chasing pack being so close, maximising the potential of the car each weekend is key. Albert Park gives us another chance to show what we can do. It is a great circuit in a great city, with a passionate and vocal fan base, and we look forward to returning."
Mercedes could end up setting a new team record in Australia. The German team have scored points at 62 Grands Prix consecutively, and they have never before managed to score points at 63 weekends in a row. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton could finish outside the top five in six consecutive races for the first time in his career.