Mercedes should change automobile idea to return to prime in F1
After a disappointing qualifying for the season-opener in Bahrain, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton qualifying sixth and seventh, Wolff stated the truth of his crew’s lack of efficiency had hit dwelling.
With the squad having pushed on with the identical automobile idea as final 12 months, whereas many rivals had gone down the Pink Bull downwash resolution, Wolff stated it was time to confess his outfit had obtained it incorrect.
Having launched its new W14 with the idea it might ultimately be made right into a winner, Wolff stated his tune had now modified and it was time to pursue different choices.
Requested by Autosport if he agreed with Hamilton’s evaluation earlier within the weekend that Mercedes wouldn’t hit its targets with the present idea, Wolff stated: “I do not suppose this bundle goes to be aggressive ultimately.
“We gave it our greatest shot all around the winter, and now we simply have to all regroup and sit down with the engineers, who’re completely not dogmatic about something.
“There aren’t any holy cows and we have to determine what’s the growth path that we wish to pursue, with the intention to be aggressive to win races.
“It isn’t solely like final 12 months, the place you’re scoring many podiums and ultimately you get there.
“I am certain we are able to win races this season. However it’s actually the mid and long run that we have to take a look at, and which selections we have to take.”
Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver, Mercedes-AMG, with Toto Wolff, Group Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG
Picture by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Photographs
Wolff steered a deep evaluation of Mercedes’ long-term plan would should be made after this weekend’s Bahrain GP.
However he was clear that even when the crew elected to pursue an all-new idea, it could not surrender on attempting to push ahead as a lot because it might with the W14.
“We’re racers, and we’re racing, and we’ll by no means surrender combating each single session to be on prime,” he stated.
“When you take a look at the pecking order, in the present day, you say, effectively, it isn’t real looking. However I am taking a look at what can we discover subsequent week? What can we add to the automobile? What’s the change of path that we are able to implement? And the way rapidly is that, in order that possibly we are able to flip the ship round this 12 months?
“It is simply first qualifying of ’23. That is why I do not wish to low cost something for this 12 months, whereas being completely real looking that it [the car] wants rather a lot to vary rather a lot.”
