Wolff declines media comment after Mercedes Baku pain

Toto Wolff declined the opportunity to face media questioning after a desperate day for Mercedes during practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

With the team aiming to bounce straight back from a woeful Monaco GP where only seven points were scored as Valtteri Bottas retired and Lewis Hamilton scrambled for pace, Mercedes could only muster 11th and 16th during the qualifying simulations.

It was more of the same at the Baku City Circuit, with the lack of pace seemingly related to tyre warm-up and set-up issues, with a disheartened Hamilton saying over team radio: "I'm not going to go any faster. I don't know where the time is."

In contrast, championship leaders Red Bull topped the second session with a one-two led by Sergio Perez, who was fastest both on qualifying and race simulations.

Drivers' standings leader Max Verstappen was not entirely happy with his car as he finished a tenth of a second behind Perez, describing his RB16B as "night and day" different in FP2 compared to FP1.

Mercedes' issues were compounded by Ferrari's continuation of form from Monaco as Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were third and fourth quickest, and that after the latter shunted into a barrier, losing the front wing.

Wolff, who regularly provides insight into Mercedes' exploits on Sky Sports F1, declined on this occasion to speak to the broadcaster after the latest struggles, instead preferring to dive straight into a debrief to understand the issues.

Sky analyst and former F1 driver Paul di Resta remarked that "both drivers walked from the back of the garage to their rooms with their helmets on.

"They didn't want to be stopped and quizzed, and Toto Wolff was on a pretty sharp march to get himself across there.

"They will be up in that office and here the latest tonight."

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