Toto Wolff stays grounded after China GP, admitting Mercedes has improved but still lacks the consistency to fight for the championship.
Even though George Russell was close to the McLarens in China, Toto Wolff isn’t getting carried away.
The Mercedes F1 Team Principal was encouraged by his team’s performance at the Chinese Grand Prix – but he’s staying grounded. Wolff admitted he expected a wider gap between Mercedes and McLaren in race pace.
“McLaren probably had two tenths on us during the race,” Wolff said. “Given that our car didn’t work at all on Friday, that’s a solid step forward. You can find two or three tenths like that – but in Melbourne, the gap was just too big.”
Despite the progress, Wolff knows consistency is the real challenge:
“We shouldn’t bounce between optimism and disappointment. What we need is a stable foundation over a few races so we can say: this is where we actually stand.”
And right now, he’s clear, Mercedes isn’t a title contender.
“I wouldn’t say we’re in the title fight yet,” he admitted. “Look at Oscar Piastri – it’s easier to manage tyres and pace when you’re running up front.”
Still, there are positives. “We weren’t far off. Today, we were the second-strongest team, and that’s a good result. The front tyres are delicate, and everyone’s trying to figure them out – us included.”
Wolff highlighted that tyre management could be the key to future success:
“The hard tyre was rock solid – it could run three-quarters of the race. So, we’re learning race by race, test by test. The teams that master the tyres the quickest will be the ones fighting at the front.”
Mercedes has come a long way since 2023, but Wolff wants more.
“Our car’s foundation is stable. When we make changes – whether it’s mechanical, aero, or wings – the car reacts as we expect. But we’re not where we want to be yet.”
And he’s not sugarcoating the road ahead:
“We won’t be satisfied until we’re winning races again and fighting for championships. Nothing is guaranteed – success has to be earned. That’s the challenge. That’s the journey ahead.”
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Progress Made, But Mercedes Still Off the Pace – Wolff
Progress Made, But Mercedes Still Off the Pace – Wolff
