close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • IT
  • ES-MX
  • US
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Coulthard in Australia

Coulthard slates Wolff 'kick in the whatnots' Mercedes concept criticism

Coulthard in Australia — Photo: © LAT Images
6 reacties

Coulthard slates Wolff 'kick in the whatnots' Mercedes concept criticism

Wolff conceded that Mercedes 'got it wrong' this year

Former F1 race winner David Coulthard has questioned where Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is coming from with his "brutal" criticism of the W14.

Mercedes finished fifth and seventh at the Bahrain Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton finishing 50 seconds off victor Max Verstappen at the chequered flag.

This margin of defeat caused Wolff to declare that Mercedes had 'got it wrong' by sticking with its zeropod concept and order 'radical changes' from the team.

Speaking to Channel 4, Coulthard said: “I think it was brutal.

“This car has only been alive for six days, a few days of testing, three days here. I don’t know where he’s coming from with that.

“But yeah, they’ve got a completely different strategy with the sidepods. They clearly have to try and follow the pack now. But that is like a big kick in the whatnots for the design team.”

READ MORE: Wolff concedes defeat in Mercedes zeropod pursuit

Mercedes 'not as bad' as advertised

Wolff had already begun to question Mercedes' philosophy after qualifying with Hamilton and Russell lining up sixth and seventh.

Despite the chasm separating the team from Red Bull, Coulthard maintained there are still reasons for Mercedes to be optimistic for the season.

“Relative to being defined as best of the rest, potentially they are (fine).

"Okay, (Charles) Leclerc didn’t finish but it’s not as bad as he sort of stated after qualifying.”

READ MORE: March's key F1 diary dates

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton contract clause emerges as FIA lifeline revealed

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton contract clause emerges as FIA lifeline revealed

  • 1 hour ago
F1 in April - Six crucial dates for your diary

F1 in April - Six crucial dates for your diary

  • Yesterday 22:42
Lewis Hamilton contract clause blocks Ferrari team orders - F1 insider

Lewis Hamilton contract clause blocks Ferrari team orders - F1 insider

  • Yesterday 21:56
Max Verstappen misery deepens as Red Bull fail in key FIA bid

Max Verstappen misery deepens as Red Bull fail in key FIA bid

  • Yesterday 20:52
Aston Martin get F1 lifeline as FIA ruling gives crisis team a massive boost

Aston Martin get F1 lifeline as FIA ruling gives crisis team a massive boost

  • Yesterday 19:56
Max Verstappen is doing 'bizarre' 24-hour race outside F1

Max Verstappen is doing 'bizarre' 24-hour race outside F1

  • Yesterday 18:55

Just in

07:25
F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton contract clause emerges as FIA lifeline revealed
4-4
F1 in April - Six crucial dates for your diary
4-4
Lewis Hamilton contract clause blocks Ferrari team orders - F1 insider
4-4
Max Verstappen misery deepens as Red Bull fail in key FIA bid
4-4
Aston Martin get F1 lifeline as FIA ruling gives crisis team a massive boost
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton contract clause emerges as FIA lifeline revealed F1 News Today

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton contract clause emerges as FIA lifeline revealed

1 hour ago
Lewis Hamilton contract clause blocks Ferrari team orders - F1 insider Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton contract clause blocks Ferrari team orders - F1 insider

Yesterday 21:56
Max Verstappen misery deepens as Red Bull fail in key FIA bid Red Bull

Max Verstappen misery deepens as Red Bull fail in key FIA bid

Yesterday 20:52
Aston Martin get F1 lifeline as FIA ruling gives crisis team a massive boost Aston Martin

Aston Martin get F1 lifeline as FIA ruling gives crisis team a massive boost

Yesterday 19:56
Ontdek het op Google Play
x