Wolff reveals Mercedes will keep 'important' 2023 car

Toto Wolff has said that Mercedes won't just 'push the car into a corner somewhere' after a disappointing 2023 campaign.

The team have struggled with inconsistencies all season, with neither seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton or George Russell being able to challenge at the front regularly.

Claiming second in the constructors' championship at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will have been some consolation to them, but overall, things have looked pretty bleak, particularly as Hamilton's old rival Max Verstappen has been able to break countless records.

Whilst they were only the third best team in 2022, they did manage significantly more points last season, and claimed a race victory through Russell at the Brazilian GP.

Mercedes 2024 hopes rest on 2023

Now, Mercedes team principal Wolff has given his overwhelming thoughts on the season in general.

"I'm torn. Today we ‘won’ second place, but it still reminds you that it's not the first place," he said, speaking to Sky Germany after the Abu Dhabi GP.

"That's why I always said that 2nd or 3rd makes little difference to me. It is important for the team that we now take the momentum with us from a positive weekend after so many negative ones. We just have to do a better job next year.

"My first reaction is always that I want to push the car into a corner somewhere, but these two cars are important. Last year's car was so bold with the radical design we had. On paper it was fast but in reality it wasn't.

"That was a step that was perhaps important for our long-term development. We stuck with the car because we won in Brazil and we were really good there. But then this year it was clear from the start that it wasn't possible. These cars are important in a way that you remember how quickly you can get it wrong.

"Well, someone said to us today that if you add up the last ten years, it was second, first, first, first, first, first, first, first, third, second. If we look back in 20 years, it won't sound so bad, but we want to keep fighting at the front for now."

READ MORE: Hamilton delivers Mercedes F1 title fight verdict amid Red Bull domination

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