UNITED KINGDOM: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that both the Brackley and Brixworth teams are working rapidly to bring upgrades to the W14. He added that the team would “consistently” bring new parts and upgrades to the car over the coming races to close the Red Bull gap.
Currently sitting third in the Constructors’ standings, Mercedes are nine points behind Aston Martin and 67 points behind Red Bull.
Wolff trusts in his team to out-develop Red Bull over the year if they are to close the gap at the front.
In an interview with Mercedes’ official website, Wolff said that it is encouraging to see that the team understands the car much better after three races in car development.
He explains that Mercedes has a defined and clear direction in which they need to go and that he believes the team is on the right trajectory. Formula 1 is on a four-week “break” after the FIA cancelled the Chinese Grand Prix.
However, the scheduled restart in Azerbaijan on April 28 will kickstart a hectic run of ten races over 14 weeks as the season settles into a rhythm.
Wolff said Mercedes would gradually bring upgrades to the W14 as the races go on, with the Austrian admitting no “magic bullet” would help them match Red Bull’s pace immediately.
The team will consistently bring upgrades to the car over the next few races, which Wolff feels is something to look forward to.
He is realistic about Mercedes’ chance, saying no magic bullet will improve the car’s performance and hoping to see a steady improvement.
With three rounds under their belts, Mercedes lack pace compared to Red Bull, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez taking all three wins between them in 2023.
Despite the gap, Wolff said he has identified where they need to change the car to improve its performance, having previously hinted at significant changes to the W14’s concept in the early rounds.
The busy schedule coming up for the teams includes a lot of racing to occur before the mid-season summer break starts at the end of July.
Also Read: “I Don’t Really Know,” Says Johnny Herbert after Facing Sky F1 Axe
