Toto Wolff has said that Mercedes won’t just ‘push the car into a corner somewhere’ after a disappointing 2023 campaign.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, and George Russell have both struggled with consistency throughout the season, and neither has been able to consistently challenge at the front of the pack.
Even though they finished second in the constructors’ title at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, Hamilton’s former rival, has broken numerous records, so things have looked quite dire overall.
Despite only finishing third in 2022, they managed a lot more points in the previous season and won a race in the Brazilian Grand Prix thanks to Russell.
Mercedes 2024 aspirations pause in 2023
Wolff, the team principal for Mercedes, has now shared his comprehensive thoughts on the season overall.
“I’m conflicted. After the Abu Dhabi GP, he commented to Sky Germany, “Today we ‘won’ second place, but it still reminds you that it’s not the first place.”
“I’ve always stated that it doesn’t really matter if I’m in second or third. After so many bad weekends, it is crucial for the squad that we now carry the energy from a successful one. All we need to do is work even harder the next year.
“These two cars are essential, but my initial instinct is always to want to jam the car into a corner somewhere. The car we had last year had such a distinctive design that it was very bold. Although it appeared quick on paper, it wasn’t.
That was a move that might have been crucial to our long-term growth. Since we were the best in Brazil when we won, we decided to stick with the car. However, this year it was evident from the beginning that it was not going to happen. These cars are significant because they help you realize how easily things may go wrong.
Someone informed us today that the last ten years’ total was, according to the addition, second, first, first, first, first, first, third, second. we look back in 20 years, it won’t sound so bad, but we want to keep fighting at the front for now.”
