Mercedes targeting big gains says Wolff

20.03.2023 - 20:29 channelnewsasia.com

Formula One champions Red Bull are in a league of their own but once-dominant Mercedes can see big gains ahead after going back to the drawing board with their car.Speaking to reporters at last weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, team principal Toto Wolff said he would have no shame if the revamped car ended up resembling a Red Bull, so long as it was quick."We are just storming full steam ahead now and changing things," said the Austrian."We are making really big steps at the moment with our R&D, with our understanding in the (wind) tunnel, that is really big steps because we just needed to have the confirmation in Bahrain that we got it wrong."I think if we continue to do the big steps that we’ve already done in the last 10 days then I think we come to a stage where we are really able to respond."George Russell and seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth in Jeddah, still a long way off Red Bull and behind Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso but ahead of both Ferraris.In Bahrain, the March 5 season-opener, they were the fourth fastest team.Red Bull have won both races to date one-two, dropping only one point for a fastest lap.

Double world champion Max Verstappen went from 15th to second in Saudi Arabia, powering past Hamilton - who said on Saturday he felt "at a bit of a loss" with the car - as if lapping a back-marker."The kind of gains that are coming in, in our R&D and in aero, are much bigger than we've had over a long time," said Wolff after Russell qualified fourth before moving up to third on the Saudi Arabian starting grid."We've unlocked some potential because we simply look at things from different angles now.

Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Aston Martin Toto Wolff George Russell Fernando Alonso Grand Prix Austria Saudi Arabia Bahrain Jeddah

T here can be no illusions for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes as to where they stand in Formula One’s pecking order despite returning their best finish of the season at Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix. Melbourne was their first celebratory moment thus far but that they revelled in a second place is indicative of the mountain they have to climb. For a team that has dominated F1 for so long this is perhaps their greatest challenge yet.

Lewis Hamilton revives Mercedes' hopes, despite Red Bull authority in Australia

Red Bull ace Max Verstappen might have dominated a wild Australian Grand Prix, but Mercedes were also a big winner with the Silver Arrows finally starting to look competitive.

Mercedes Will Take 'Huge' Confidence From Australia: George Russell

George Russell said his Mercedes car was the "best" he had raced and the team took "huge" confidence from qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix regardless of what happens in the race. The Briton will start from the front row in Melbourne on Sunday alongside dominant Red Bull champion Max Verstappen, with his teammate Lewis Hamilton third. Their efforts, outpacing Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and both the Ferraris, raised hopes that they could make the podium. Team boss Toto Wolff said this week Mercedes had made "promising" progress since the first two grand prix of the season, and Russell said he couldn't be happier.

No major upgrades for Mercedes before Imola, says Wolff

MELBOURNE : Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will have to wait until the sixth race of the Formula One season at Imola in May for any major upgrades to their cars, team boss Toto Wolff said on Friday.