Ferrari 'always a concern' to Mercedes - Toto Wolff

Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Ferrari 'always a concern' to Mercedes - Wolff

Ferrari has secured pole for the last two races

Sam Hall

Sunday 6 June 2021 11:45

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has warned that Ferrari should never be discounted in F1 after Charles Leclerc secured back-to-back pole positions for the Scuderia.

Ferrari endured a torrid time last season as it recorded its worst constructors' result since 1980, but the Italian powerhouse has bounced back with a vengeance this year to battle with McLaren for midfield supremacy.

After watching Lewis Hamilton miss out on pole to Leclerc, Wolff said of Ferrari: “You always have to be concerned.

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"They are going well. They are pretty decent in the second sector, this is what was good for them in Monaco as well and then I think you need to acknowledge the steps they have taken and let’s see what their performance is going to be.”

Mercedes expects stronger race pace

Mercedes experienced its most difficult Friday practice of recent times as Hamilton and team-mate Valtteri Bottas failed to finish in the top 10.

After a turnaround in time for qualifying, in particular on Hamilton's side of the garage with team-mate Valtteri Bottas only 10th, Wolff is now expecting further improvements in the race.

“Yes, I would very much hope so," he added. "We had a quick racing car on the long runs, we had good tyre deg and we have good straight-line speed so it should put us in a decent position for the race.

“But obviously it is 90 minutes away from crossing the line.”