BRAZIL: The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, expressed his profound disappointment after the team’s lacklustre performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix, labelling it as ‘inexcusable’. The once-dominant outfit managed only an eighth-place finish, courtesy of Lewis Hamilton, as both W14s struggled to maintain their early momentum.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly managed to overtake, leaving Mercedes settling into eighth and ninth positions with Hamilton and Russell, respectively. Unfortunately for George Russell, his race came to an untimely end as his power unit approached critical failure. The team made the tough decision to retire the car rather than risk further damage.
Wolff, visibly disheartened, expressed his frustration in an interview with the media, stating, “Inexcusable performance.” He went on to emphasize the difficulty the team faced, acknowledging the precarious nature of the car’s performance.
Addressing speculation about the impact of the Sprint format on Mercedes’ setup, Wolff acknowledged their struggles on sprint race weekends but maintained that it did not fully explain the dismal showing in Brazil.
With the W14 now looking unlikely to secure a victory this season, Wolff candidly stated, “This car doesn’t deserve a win.” He emphasized the need to push forward in the final two races and focus on recovery. The team identified issues with straight-line speed and cornering ability with the larger wing, as well as excessive tyre wear, as contributing factors to their subpar performance.
Wolff stressed the importance of development for the upcoming season, emphasizing the need for substantial improvements to avoid a repeat of their disappointing campaign. As Mercedes looks ahead to the final races in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, the team will be working tirelessly to rectify their performance woes and end the season on a high note.
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