Mercedes downplay 'long shot' F1 title chances

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes his team has a “very, very long shot” of competing for this year’s Formula 1 world championship amid its current performance.

The Brackley-based outfit’s claims from pre-season testing it was on the back foot were realised in Bahrain as it struggled to match the pace of rivals Ferrari and Red Bull.

Drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell spent most of the season opener running in fifth and sixth place respectively, only to capitalise on Red Bull’s late double retirement to salvage an unlikely podium finish.

While the result leaves Mercedes second in the constructors’ standings, Wolff quickly put to bed any talk of a title challenge given the team’s current form.

“If we look at the pecking order, it seems a very, very long shot to even think about being in the contention for any of the championships,” Wolff said, as quoted by Motorsport Week.

“But if I look at it as a single race weekend we probably scored the maximum points that we could have, and we need to take it from there.

“Every single weekend counts, and at the moment it is singular events, because realistically when you’re third on the road you can’t think about winning it.”

Mercedes opted to bolt on a set of Pirelli’s hard compound tyres for its second stint during the grand prix, a decision that quickly backfired as both drivers struggled to find pace.

But despite its gamble on strategy failing to pay off, Wolff defended his team’s decision, admitting it felt it was worth experimenting as it continues to gain a clearer understanding of the W13.

“In a way it was a new situation for all of us as we’re somewhere in no man’s land between P3/4 and P6,” Wolff said.

“Therefore you can experiment more, and the experiment with