Wolff: Mercedes Must Crack McLaren’s Tire Code to Compete

Wolff: Mercedes Must Crack McLaren’s Formula to Compete

McLaren’s tire mastery has stunned F1 rivals. Mercedes, led by Toto Wolff, is determined to uncover the secret behind their performance edge.

Mercedes is on a mission to decode the impressive performance of McLaren, particularly when it comes to tire management. After McLaren’s dominant showing at the Australian Grand Prix, where they outpaced Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, questions have emerged about what gives them the edge.

George Russell admitted that McLaren’s pace was so strong it made him think about shifting focus to the 2026 regulations. However, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff insists they are not giving up on the current season.

“Their advantage is huge, it’s impressive,” Wolff said after the race in Melbourne. “It reminds me of our dominant years when we would disappear into the distance. But you can never give up. This was just the first real race weekend. We finished third and fourth. Without Oscar Piastri’s mistake, we should have been fourth and fifth. But we are where we are, and that’s why we can’t take our foot off the gas.”

Wolff believes that McLaren’s secret lies in their superior tire management, allowing them to extract more performance over a race stint.

“We’re not losing because of downforce—it’s not a 20-point deficit in aero. It’s a mechanical issue. How can we keep the tires in the right window?”

Despite McLaren’s advantage, Mercedes is not shifting focus entirely toward 2026.

“This doesn’t change our priorities for 2026. We need to stay cool and keep pushing forward.”

McLaren’s Tire Mastery: The Key to Their Speed?

Both Wolff and Russell agree that McLaren’s ability to preserve its tires better than Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes is what sets them apart.

“I would have loved to fight them and Max Verstappen under normal conditions to see where we truly stand,” Wolff admitted. “But we struggle to keep the tires in the optimal performance window. McLaren does it better, and that’s why they’re faster. Our tires overheat, and it kills our pace. Red Bull has the same issue. Probably Ferrari too.”

Looking ahead, Wolff knows that solving this problem is crucial if Mercedes wants to compete for wins and championships.

“McLaren’s pace is simply outstanding. The one thing we need to figure out is how they manage their tires so well. That’s our challenge. If we want to fight for wins and the title on merit, this is where we need to improve.”

Mercedes now faces the task of cracking McLaren’s formula before the season slips away. The question remains—can they catch up?