Wolff warns Red Bull Mercedes in "best place" of season

Ewan Gale
Tuesday 30 November 2021 17:15

Toto Wolff has warned Red Bull that Mercedes is in the "best place it has been all season" ahead of the final two races of the F1 title battle.

Mercedes has been on top form in the last two races with Lewis Hamilton keeping the drivers' championship alive with two successive wins, leaving the gap to Max Verstappen at just eight points.

With the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix providing unknowns, Wolff described the preparation leading to visiting a new circuit such as the Jeddah Corniche.

"The car has been performing well recently and is probably in the best place it has been all season, with the drivers confident to push it to the limit," he explained.

"That's encouraging for the final races and gives us strong momentum to take forward. "Jeddah is another completely new challenge, an all-new track to get to grips with and a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure we hit the ground running on Friday, because getting as much information as we can during those initial sessions will be vital. "It's a fast street circuit with long flat-out sections and several high-speed corners, lined by barriers meaning it'll be high risk and reward.

"We're more motivated than ever and we expect to be in the hunt, so we are all looking forward to the debut grand prix in Saudi Arabia."

Mercedes aim to honour Williams' "racing spirit"

Wolff has insisted Mercedes will aim to "deliver a performance" worthy of Sir Frank Williams' "racing spirit" when F1 visits Saudi Arabia for the first time.

The Williams team founder died last weekend aged 79, leaving a lasting legacy on the sport.

Mercedes team principal Wolff had ties with Williams from 2009 onwards when he became a shareholder and later executive director, before divesting those shares when taking the helm at the Silver Arrows.

"Just a few days ago we lost Sir Frank Williams," he said. "He will be in all our thoughts this weekend and we'll try our best to deliver a performance that's worthy of his racing spirit."

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