close global

Welcome to GPFans

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

  • NL
  • GB
  • GB

Are you a F1 Fan? Follow GP Fans

Edition

NL GB IT ES-MX US
Hamilton, Perez, Mercedes, Red Bull, Styria

Wolff reveals the "immense factor" in Mercedes-Red Bull title battle

Hamilton, Perez, Mercedes, Red Bull, Styria — Photo: © LAT Images

Wolff reveals the "immense factor" in Mercedes-Red Bull title battle

Mercedes is involved in its toughest title battle to date

Sam Hall & Ian Parkes
Google Make us your Google favorite

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has stated the regulation changes from 2020 into the current season are an "immense factor" in the fight with Red Bull.

Last year, Mercedes finished the season 254 points clear of Red Bull in the constructors' standings but after 11 races this term, the gap is only 12 points with Red Bull winning six and Mercedes four.

"One immense factor is that the aero regulations that have been changed from 2020 to '21 hit us much more than Red Bull," explained Wolff in an interview including GPFans Global.

"The fact is that we underestimated, so that is our own mistake, the regulatory change.

"We thought we can compensate for the deficit we had because we had actually quite a big performance advantage last season."

After a tough pre-season test in Bahrain, Mercedes bounced back quickly winning three of the first four races with Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bull then struck back with a five-race winning streak but recent upgrades for Mercedes appear to have once again closed the gap between the two title-chasing teams.

"We realised pretty soon in testing that we had a problem, and sorting that out, if you have a sheer lack of downforce, is very difficult," Wolff added.

"We've been struggling a lot with it but slowly but surely we are crawling back, but that is the single biggest factor."

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Alpine F1 team to pay tribute to racing star after fatal crash

Alpine F1 team to pay tribute to racing star after fatal crash

  • 2 hours ago
The sweet promise F1 champion Max Verstappen kept for his sister will melt your heart

The sweet promise F1 champion Max Verstappen kept for his sister will melt your heart

  • 3 hours ago
Meet the brilliant F1 star who doesn't even have a driving licence

Meet the brilliant F1 star who doesn't even have a driving licence

  • Yesterday 21:00
Red Bull told to replace Max Verstappen with F1 'gem', but there is a catch

Red Bull told to replace Max Verstappen with F1 'gem', but there is a catch

  • Yesterday 19:45
Christian Horner's 'huge pressure' moment that sparked Red Bull axe

Christian Horner's 'huge pressure' moment that sparked Red Bull axe

  • Yesterday 18:45
F1 star says four-time world champion's team move forced him to leave

F1 star says four-time world champion's team move forced him to leave

  • Yesterday 18:00

Just in

15-7
Alpine F1 team to pay tribute to racing star after fatal crash
15-7
The sweet promise F1 champion Max Verstappen kept for his sister will melt your heart
15-7
Meet the brilliant F1 star who doesn't even have a driving licence
15-7
Red Bull told to replace Max Verstappen with F1 'gem', but there is a catch
15-7
Christian Horner's 'huge pressure' moment that sparked Red Bull axe
F1 news

Recommended by the editors

Alpine F1 team to pay tribute to racing star after fatal crash Belgian Grand Prix

Alpine F1 team to pay tribute to racing star after fatal crash

2 hours ago
The sweet promise F1 champion Max Verstappen kept for his sister will melt your heart Max Verstappen

The sweet promise F1 champion Max Verstappen kept for his sister will melt your heart

3 hours ago
Meet the brilliant F1 star who doesn't even have a driving licence F1 News & Gossip

Meet the brilliant F1 star who doesn't even have a driving licence

Yesterday 21:00
Honda chief reveals good news for Aston Martin but admits 'very demanding' Spa concerns Aston Martin F1

Honda chief reveals good news for Aston Martin but admits 'very demanding' Spa concerns

Yesterday 17:00
Ontdek het op Google Play
x