Toto Wolff had a message for his Mercedes team ahead of a crucial winter break development period.
Toto Wolff has stated that his Mercedes team need to ‘get their acts together’ as they look to produce a 2024 challenger worthy of taking the fight to Red Bull. The Silver Arrows finished second in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship standings but were some way off challenging Christian Horner’s outfit.
Mercedes beat Ferrari to second place in the season-ending Abu Dhabi round thanks to George Russell’s podium finish, but the distinction of finishing ahead of the pack did little more than serve as a diversion from the actual disparity in speed at the top of the standings.
Red Bull had 860 points at the end of the season, which meant they were 451 points ahead of Mercedes at the end of the season. Even worse, Red Bull held a sizable lead over their competitors in the final race of the year, even though they had switched their focus to the RB19’s replacement months earlier.
“New season starts with a completely new car and that gives opportunities but also risks,” Wolff said in response to a question from Sky Sports regarding Mercedes’ ability to produce a car that can compete with Red Bull by the end of the 2024 season.
We need to be realistic, in my opinion. Though we are striving for greatness, we came in second place to a team that was exceeding all expectations.
“I mean, I’ve always said that this is a meritocracy and best driver and best car wins, so we have to just get out act together, and I hope it’s us [that can fight Red Bull],” the Mercedes team principal said in response to the question of whether one of Mercedes’ competitors will put pressure on Red Bull if they don’t.
The Brackley-based team has a realistic chance to win his record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship crown in 2024, according to Wolff, if they can work some winter magic and create a car that can compete with Red Bull and Max Verstappen for race victories on a regular basis.
After the season’s last race, Wolff said, “If we are able to give him the car, then he will be fighting for a world championship.” “I’m positive. It’s obvious that you are never comfortable driving a Formula 1 car like the one we currently own.
You can have great weekends and terrible weekends, but in the end, the true Lewis always emerges when we witness him pursuing his objective and focusing on winning the race. All we have to do is get him a car.”
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