Mercedes face "deficits everywhere" - Wolff

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has conceded the team faces "deficits everywhere" after the first two races of the season.

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished a surprise third and fourth in Bahrain after both Red Bulls retired, before the seven-time champion could finish only 10th in Saudi Arabia as his new team-mate finished fifth.

Red Bull and Ferrari have been described as being "in a different league" by Wolff already this year and asked for a timeframe in sorting issues on the W13, the Austrian explained: “I think we are not running the car where we wanted to run it.

"Therefore it is very difficult to really assess what the lap time deficit is if we were able to run the car lower.

“I would very much hope that the gap is much closer to what we have seen but there is deficits everywhere.”

Wolff - "Important" for F1 to return to Australia

F1 returns to Australia for the first race in the country since 2019 having missed out in the last two seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing the upcoming race at a revamped Albert Park circuit, Wolff said: “It’s really important to Formula 1 because F1 has a great fanbase there and it has been always part of the circus.

"So coming back there is something that everybody is always looking forward to.

“Less so me at the moment but if I take my Mercedes hat off, it is a great place and we love to be in Australia.”

Related

Latest F1 News

BLOW for former F1 champion as Mercedes preferences revealed

• Yesterday 18:58

Latest F1 News

Mercedes star tipped to replace struggling driver THIS season

• April 25, 2024 11:57
• 2