Toto Wolff was pleased after Lewis Hamilton ended his team’s wait for the first podium of the year. The 7x champion finished 2nd in the 2023 Australian GP, which has only bolstered the morale within Mercedes.
Both Hamilton and George Russell seemed to look much faster in Melbourne after a slow start to the season. The two drivers reported earlier that the W14 had failed to close the gap between them and constructors champions Red Bull.
With Fernando Alonso securing 3 podiums, the Aston Martin sent the silver arrows further down the pecking order. However, the 8-time constructor’s champions have continued to improve their car, which was visible in the last race.
Toto Wolff praises Mercedes’s vision
The plan to revamp the car after a poor start has put a load of pressure on the Mercedes factory workers and engineers. Toto Wolff shared that he has been proud of his team’s attitude to return back to their winning days.
“The machine continues to run in Brixworth and Brackley at a steady pace,” stated the Mercedes boss. He added, “What you see on the track is only the tip of the iceberg. The real performance of the car and the power unit is generated in these two factories.”
Mercedes had a steep drop from being 8-time consecutive constructors champs to finishing 3rd in 2022. The team failed to master the new regulations which allowed Ferrari and Red Bull to duel for the top spot last season.
Shout out to our Night Shift crew. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AkF0MHUUS2
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) April 15, 2023
Wolff claims the team has not lost their hunger to return back to winning days. The Austrian backs his side and claims the Silver Arrows need to work steadily to get back to the top.
He said, “I believe 100% in Mercedes because our perspective is not always fixed on a single race weekend, not even a single season. We have succeeded despite knowing the fact that you will never win every season.”
Wolff has also brought back the expertise of James Allison. Allison had previously stepped away from F1 to focus on INEOS UK’s sailing team. The Austrian stated that Allison would continue his role with INEOS and serve as Mercedes’s chief technical director.
Wolff shares positives in Mercedes’s improvement so far
Team principal Toto Wolff claims the team is continuously working to improve their pace and close the gap with Red Bull. Mercedes have identified a major flaw in the W14’s design which hampered the car’s speed and handling.
The issue has been addressed in Brackley. It is reported that the team is working on a ‘B’ car while simultaneously improving the current W14. However, Wolff is pleased to see the improvement so far.
Pure elation for @LewisHamilton and @MercedesAMGF1 after their superb P2 finish in Melbourne! 💪#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/kgSWJf5sWL
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 3, 2023
He said, “In terms of car development, it’s encouraging to see that in three races we understand the car much better. We’ve set a clear direction where we need to go and I think we’re on the right trajectory.”
The Austrian claims the team has taken the right step and must only look forward from now on. He added, “There will be setbacks, but there will also be developments and a lot of work that will help us get closer to the lead.”
The Austrian also stated that there would be a consistent stream of updates in the car. He claims the team needs to have an ambitious development plan like their contract rivals Red Bull.
