Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff makes stunning CHAMPIONS claim

Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell pose for a photo together, smiling — Photo: © IMAGO

Mercedes

Wolff makes stunning Mercedes CHAMPIONS claim

Toto Wolff has made a stunning claim about Mercedes' chances at the Las Vegas GP

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Friday 22 November 2024 21:54 Updated: 22:31

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has claimed that his drivers may have a chance of winning the Las Vegas Grand Prix, as the team are 'champions' of mastering difficult conditions.

Lewis Hamilton heads into the Vegas grand prix weekend off the back of a torrid Brazilian GP, where he recently admitted he considered calling it quits on his Mercedes career, three races earlier than his expected exit from the team.

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Hamilton will join Ferrari next season, and has become increasingly frustrated at both his and his Mercedes team's performance over the last couple of seasons.

Despite this, the seven-time world champion has revealed that he has arrived in Sin City mentally stronger than he has been all year long.

Lewis Hamilton has struggled for form throughout 2024

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Mercedes in the fight for Vegas victory?

Hamilton's 2024 season in general has been dismal, the star now trailing team-mate George Russell in the drivers' championship, having been out-qualified by his fellow Brit on 16 occasions out of 21.

However, two stunning victories at the Silverstone and Belgian grands prix have given his championship points tally a respectable look, and they have also allowed him to further cement his stunning record as the sport's most decorated driver of all time.

Now, off the back of two strong practice sessions for Mercedes in Vegas, team principal Wolff has revealed Hamilton may have a good chance of adding to his 105 career race victories this weekend, but is not being lulled into a false sense of security knowing that the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull are all stronger than Mercedes at this current time.

"I think we are dirty track champions," Wolff proudly stated to F1 media after Thursday's running, local time in Vegas.

"FP1 is always great and then the moment the grip kicks in, we've seen that the performances deteriorate. Having said that, I think the gap was pretty big. It's the biggest that we've seen so far in FP1, so we've got to spray some dust for all the sessions tomorrow, in qualifying or something.

"But I don't believe this kind of advantage to the other teams is going to last. I would very much hope that we're not falling behind like we did in the past on some of the tracks, but remain competitive, fight in the front."

Lewis Hamilton Mercedes FIA Toto Wolff Las Vegas Grand Prix Brazilian GP