Mercedes should change automotive idea to return to high in F1
After a disappointing qualifying for the season-opener in Bahrain, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton qualifying sixth and seventh, Wolff mentioned the fact of his group’s lack of efficiency had hit residence.
With the squad having pushed on with the identical automotive idea as final 12 months, whereas many rivals had gone down the Crimson Bull downwash resolution, Wolff mentioned it was time to confess his outfit had bought it incorrect.
Having launched its new W14 with the idea it might ultimately be made right into a winner, Wolff mentioned his tune had now modified and it was time to pursue different choices.
Requested by Motorsport.com if he agreed with Hamilton’s evaluation earlier within the weekend that Mercedes wouldn’t hit its targets with the present idea, Wolff mentioned: “I do not assume this bundle goes to be aggressive ultimately.
“We gave it our greatest shot everywhere in the winter, and now we simply must all regroup and sit down with the engineers, who’re completely not dogmatic about something.
“There are not any holy cows and we have to resolve what’s the improvement path that we need to pursue, with a view to be aggressive to win races.
“It isn’t solely like final 12 months, the place you might be scoring many podiums and ultimately you get there.
“I am positive we are able to win races this season. Nevertheless it’s actually the mid and long run that we have to have a look at, and which selections we have to take.”
Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver, Mercedes-AMG, with Toto Wolff, Staff Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG
Picture by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Pictures
Wolff urged a deep evaluation of Mercedes’ long-term plan would must be made after this weekend’s Bahrain GP.
However he was clear that even when the group elected to pursue an all-new idea, it might not hand over on attempting to push ahead as a lot because it might with the W14.
“We’re racers, and we’re racing, and we are going to by no means hand over combating each single session to be on high,” he mentioned.
“When you have a look at the pecking order, immediately, you say, effectively, it isn’t lifelike. However I am taking a look at what can we discover subsequent week? What can we add to the automotive? 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 need to low cost something for this 12 months, whereas being completely lifelike that it [the car] wants loads to alter loads.”
