Whereas the German producer was buoyed by Lewis Hamilton taking the runner-up spot within the China dash final weekend, it nonetheless endured a difficult essential grand prix because it got here residence behind McLaren and Ferrari once more.
However with there being no notable uptrend in its type regardless of the efforts it has made to raised perceive its W15, Wolff thinks that it has to carry its sport slightly than suppose that glimmers of hope are the fact of the place it’s at.
Chatting with ServusTV about his response to the Chinese language GP weekend, Wolff stated: “Not happy in any respect. Perhaps a small spotlight with second place within the dash race, however the efficiency isn’t there.
“We are able to hold telling ourselves that there have been brilliant spots on the weekend, however we have now to take a step.
“We’ll convey a little bit of one thing to Miami, the place hopefully we are able to count on one thing. However immediately you are simply behind the Ferraris and behind [Lando] Norris. Simply not adequate.”
Mercedes has come into the 12 months upbeat in regards to the progress it has made with its W15, and its early conclusion was the platform was sturdy however had some weaknesses in high-speed corners.
Nevertheless, as occasions have progressed, the staff has uncovered extra problems with the automotive, which makes it tough to seek out the suitable candy spot with the set-up.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24, Zhou Guanyu, Kick Sauber C44
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
As Wolff admitted in China, good points it has made with its high-speed traits have been confirmed in Japan, however this progress was on the expense of its tempo in different corners.
“I feel we completely achieved that, within the excessive velocity we have been tremendous aggressive, additionally in Suzuka by way of the Esses, and it was day and evening in comparison with what we had earlier than,” stated Wolff.
“The drivers have been talking about it as one of the best automotive that they had within the final two-and-a-half years. Then we actually didn’t carry out within the low speeds.
“So that you achieve half a second within the excessive velocity, however you lose half a second within the low velocity. The equation is again to zero, so that’s one thing we have to enhance.
“We’re past the purpose of understanding and we simply want to enhance now. That’s what it must hop to, and we have now all of the details on the desk.
“We all know what we tweaked in an effort to clear up the high-speed, and we all know the place the automotive was earlier than to be fast within the low-speed. Now we simply have to bolt the automotive collectively that does each of them.”
Whereas Mercedes has failed to complete on the rostrum in a grand prix to date this season, Wolff doesn’t suppose this 12 months’s automotive is worse than its earlier floor impact equipment.
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Crew, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Crew, wave on the crowds through the driver introduction
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
As a substitute, he thinks his squad was maybe flattered earlier than when rivals like McLaren and Ferrari have been having their very own aggressive struggles.
“The benefit we had was McLaren was not racing us for the primary half of the season, so that they weren’t a competitor,” he stated.
“Ferrari wasn’t as fast and dropped the ball on a number of events and that is why we have been a podium contender and closest to Crimson Bull.
“Now these groups have picked up their efficiency ranges. This can be a relative sport and abruptly, what was adequate for third final 12 months is now [only] adequate for sixth. That is why it’s robust.
“The automotive is as troublesome because it has been up to now, tough for the drivers. George [Russell], once we mentioned it [on Saturday], stated it was the trickiest qualifying automotive he has had to date. So general, in a approach, the identical signs.”
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