Wolff concedes low expectations with "elephant" in Monaco

Mercedes

Wolff concedes low expectations with "elephant" in Monaco

Mercedes finished third and fifth in Spain but expectations remain low for Monaco

Sam Hall

Thursday 26 May 2022 05:00 Updated: 12:29

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has conceded to having low expectations for the Monaco Grand Prix with cars 'the size of an elephant'.

Even during Mercedes' dominant years, the team struggled more at tracks featuring numerous low-speed corners such as Monaco.

In part, this is down to the longer wheelbase the Silver Arrows run compared to its rivals - this trait making the car less nimble than those with a shorter wheelbase.

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Asked if Mercedes' pace through the final sector in Spain, a section that is often a good indicator for Monaco, gave him confidence heading to the principality, Wolff revealed his lower expectations.

"I wouldn't say so because we were particularly off the pace in the slow corners in the last sector due to overheating [but] that might be different in Monaco," Wolff explained.

"Monaco in the past hasn't been our most happy place, maybe because the car had the size of an elephant.

"I'll be curious to see where we are this weekend.

"We still struggle with warm up a little bit so my expectations for Monaco are lower than on any other circuit.

"I'm not sure I can explain scientifically why that is but it's going to be another learning point at least to bring us back into the game."

Hamilton eyes top step return

Although Lewis Hamilton has claimed his recovery drive to fifth in Spain 'felt like a victory', the seven-time champion has not stood on top of the podium since last year's penultimate race in Saudi Arabia.

This winless run of seven races is his longest since 2013 but had it not been for his early contract with Kevin Magnussen in Spain, Hamilton is confident he would have been fighting with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at the front.

"This is a great sign that we are going in the right direction because if I hadn't have had that, I would have been fighting with the Red Bulls," Hamilton explained.

"So that gives me great hope that at some stage we will be fighting for a win."

Asked to assess his chances for this weekend's Monaco race, Hamilton added: "I don't know if we will be quick enough for that.

"I don't think we're quick enough to qualify first just yet."