Teambaas van Mercedes op Monza — Photo: © LAT Images

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Wolff shares reason for Mercedes OPTIMISM in 2024 F1 season

The German is looking ahead to next season

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 27 November 2023 20:57

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that the team have lots of 'good things in the pipeline' heading into a 2024 season where they will need to make huge gains if they are to challenge Red Bull.

The Brackley-based outfit were unable to win a single race throughout 2023, as they were plagued by inconsistencies and a dominant force in Max Verstappen.

Although an impressive podium from George Russell at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was enough to give them second place in the constructors' championship, they were rarely able to challenge at the very front in 2023.

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After a miserable Brazilian GP for the team, Wolff proclaimed that 2023 was their 'worst performance in 13 years', while seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been disconsolate about his car in recent races.

George Russell was the last Mercedes driver to win a Grand Prix, at the Brazilian GP in 2022

Lewis Hamilton has not won a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen cruised to his third consecutive world championship title in 2023

Now, Wolff has given his overall thoughts on the season, after a successful Abu Dhabi GP.

“I think at the end it was a great end, a fight for P2" he told Sky Sports F1.

"I think that George’s driving was exceptional. I also think that Charles at the end, it was sportsmanlike behaviour not trying to slow down. Two great teams, two great brands that fought until the end.

“I was not stressed. I was stressed once in my life in Formula 1, that was here a few years ago. It was a fight for P2, super positive for us as a team and for many employees that really wanted to be vice-champion but also reminds you that it is P2.

“At the end, we are racers. We’ve got to be happy about that, but also as a racer, you just want more. But today, we won."

Mercedes chasing Red Bull

Both Lewis Hamilton and team-mate George Russell signed new deals to stay as team-mates until the end of the 2025 season at least

There have been a number of questions about whether Mercedes can provide Hamilton and Russell with a car capable of challenging for a world championship in 2024, after they both signed new contracts with the team. Wolff has, however, given fans some reason to be positive.

“We have a gap to the leaders. But the two teams in Briggsworth and Brackley are so motivated.

"We have so much good things in the pipeline, so much new things and with all the learning we have, we’re really in a good place to see what’s coming together. We’ve got to take the momentum now from the third place year, P2 in the championship and take that momentum into the factories.

“Let’s be honest, they [Red Bull] have a gap, because they got way out of the block with the new regulations, fact," he continued.

"And in order to catch up, that’s a monumental endeavour. But under a certain stage, hopefully they level off with the development speed and we can catch up.

"It’s not only adding a tenth of downforce, our car is a fundamental problem. It’s instable, the drivers have no confidence in the car and if we can dial that out, then I think we can make a step forward.

“An exceptional season for them. They’ve beaten a lot of records, testimony to a great driver and the engineering team that is Red Bull, top notch.”

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Sam Cook - Digital Journalist

Sam Cook is a talented young sports journalist and social media professional who now specialises in Formula 1, having previously worked as a football journalist and a local news reporter for a variety of different brands.

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Red Bull Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Mercedes George Russell Toto Wolff