Toto Wolff: Mercedes stronger but still playing catch-up with Red Bull ahead of F1 opener in Bahrain

02.03.2023 - 01:21 eurosport.com

Toto Wolff admits Mercedes are “still playing catch-up” with Red Bull ahead of the 2023 Formula One season – but are “stronger than 12 months ago”.

Last year’s constructors’ champions Red Bull look like the team to beat again after a strong showing in pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Ad Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton clocked the second-fastest time on the final day behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, but said afterwards the team have a “mountain to climb”.

Formula 1Leclerc concerned for Ferrari after Verstappen claims 'step forward' ahead of new season25/02/2023 AT 15:15 Even though the 'porpoising' issues that plagued the team last year appear to have gone, it is not known whether the new W14 car can compete with Red Bull and Ferrari. «We didn't have the smoothest winter test in Bahrain,» said Mercedes boss Wolff. «We had some reliability problems and struggled with the car set-up on day two. »But the key objective was to learn about the car, and we did lots of learning.

Sporting FIA Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Sergio Perez Bahrain

No one is waving the white flag quite yet but there is an overwhelming sense that after only two races of the new Formula One season a drawn-out procession has begun to an inevitable conclusion of Max Verstappen and Red Bull claiming the title. Good news for the Dutchman and his team but the manner in which it is likely to play out will be far less welcomed by F1 as it attempts to hang on to all the new fans it has attracted in recent years.

Is Red Bull's advantage as big as it looks? What next for Mercedes? Five key questions ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The second race of the Formula One season takes place in Saudi Arabia this weekend, and it promises to reveal more details about the competitive order in 2023. Red Bull dominated the season-opener in Bahrain, but that doesn't mean it'll be the case in Jeddah, where different track characteristics could shake up the order. Ahead of the second round of the 2023 season, here's a look at some of the big questions ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Toto Wolff admits Hamilton will need to leave Mercedes if car does not improve

Toto Wolff has admitted he would not blame Lewis Hamilton for seeking a move away from Mercedes if the sport’s once-dominant team fails to reverse its slump.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen tops FP2 in Jeddah ahead of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen continued his red-hot form to top the FP2 standings under the lights ahead of Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah. Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez finished third with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso sandwiched in between, a narrow 0.208 seconds adrift of the current champion. Ad It wasn’t all plain sailing for Verstappen, though — who won the season opener in Bahrain two weeks ago — as he reported “really bad” problems with the downshift over the team radio.