Mercedes slipped to P5 and P6 in Saudi Arabia after tyre overheating wrecked their podium hopes. Miami now looms as crucial.
Wolff Highlights 18-Point Gain from Russell and Antonelli Despite Setbacks
Mercedes F1 endured what team boss Toto Wolff called their “worst performance of the year” at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, finishing fifth and sixth in a race plagued by tire overheating and degradation. Despite the challenges, Wolff praised George Russell and young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli for securing 18 valuable points.
“We came into the weekend hoping for a podium,” Wolff admitted. “But once the tire overheating kicked in, our pace just wasn’t there. With the limitations we faced, P5 and P6 were the best we could do.”
Wolff stressed the need for immediate improvements: “We have to dig deep into the data and find answers fast. Miami is next, and with similar hot conditions, we can’t afford to repeat this.”
Both Russell and Antonelli battled hard, but the heat and tire wear left them unable to defend against key rivals.
“George did everything he could, but Leclerc and Norris had the edge in the closing laps,” Wolff added. “Kimi showed great maturity, holding off Lewis and securing P6. It helped limit the damage in the Constructors’ Championship—but we’re not leaving Jeddah happy.”
Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, echoed the sentiment.
“This was our most difficult race so far. We started from strong grid positions—third and fifth—and had genuine hopes of fighting at the front,” Shovlin explained. “But the tire issues caught up with us. The Mediums and Hards both overheated when pushed, and we couldn’t stay in the fight.”
“George had no defense in the final laps. Kimi did well to keep Lewis behind, but fifth and sixth are not results we’ll ever settle for.”
Tire management remains a top priority for the team heading into the next phase of the season.
“We know it’s an area where we need to improve, and the factory is fully focused on it. While it was a tough night, we’ve still managed to score consistently over the first five races,” said Shovlin. “That’s a positive—but we need to turn points into podiums.”
“With a string of exciting races coming up, starting with Miami in two weeks, we have a real opportunity to make a step forward. But it starts with mastering tire control.”
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Mercedes falters in Jeddah as tyre woes stall podium push Mercedes falters in Jeddah as tyre woes stall podium push
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