Wolff admits 'DRAMATIC' Hamilton Mercedes changes made
Wolff admits 'DRAMATIC' Hamilton Mercedes changes made
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted that the team undertook ‘dramatic’ changes during Friday’s running for the Australian Grand Prix.
It has been a poor start to the season for the Silver Arrows, who lie fourth in the constructors’ standings after two grands prix.
READ MORE: F1 team forced to contend with Australian Grand Prix ban
Lewis Hamilton is in his swansong year with the outfit, and they are not making the most of their time together – with the Brit racking up eight points so far.
The all-new W15 and its different concept has been tricky for them to get used to and extract potential from, leading them down an interesting setup path.
One that left their seven-time champion in 18th place after second practice in Melbourne and well over a second off the pace.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Newey 'one hour' from forming all-champion F1 line up
'Dramatic' changes at Mercedes
But Wolff has now admitted that they tried something very different with the car and it didn’t pay off – meaning a long night could be ahead for the Mercedes engineers.
“In the second session we have gone through quite a dramatic set-up change on Lewis and that has dramatically backfired, but this is why we are having those sessions,” he told Sky Sports.
“On the other side it was a bit better [with Russell] but we are lacking performance. On a single lap if he finishes that lap we are a bit better, but overall, it wasn’t a good day.
“If I would say I am not frustrated it would not be the truth. Certainly, we are because we are trying so much in all directions but don’t seem to have found that silver bullet yet which helps us to get us in the right direction. But we have got to keep trying.”
After scraping the barrel to progress through Q2 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Mercedes and Hamilton will be worried that without positive progress, they could be staring down the barrel of a poor result.
Alternatively, looming weather could assist the Brackley based outfit if rain arrives during qualifying on Saturday to bless the track.
READ MORE: FIA announce huge F1 Saudi Arabian GP investigation result
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Verstappen sent Horner CLEAR message before Newey bombshell
- 21 minutes ago
Horner admits Red Bull star may NEVER return to team
- 1 hour ago
F1 team OFFICIALLY confirms signing of new lead driver
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton hints Newey Ferrari move as Verstappen takes swipe at F1 rival
- Today 06:57
Newey Red Bull EXIT date revealed as F1 star confirmed at new team - GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark
- Yesterday 22:57
Related news
'Disaster waiting to happen': F1 star demands FIA safety OVERHAUL after terrifying crash
F1 pundit claims Mercedes HARSHLY treated by rivals
Kravitz attacked with CAKE in Ferrari celebrations
Perez makes HUGE Verstappen claim to give rivals title hope
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860