On what turned out to be a “bruising” Saturday for Mercedes, team principal Toto Wolff was deeply disappointed. Despite a strong start to the sprint, Mercedes was overtaken multiple times.
George Russell, driving one of the Silver Arrows cars, moved up to second place in the race after Lando Norris, who had started from pole position, was passed by Max Verstappen, the eventual winner, at the first turn.
Nevertheless, the Mercedes W14 found it difficult to catch up to Interlagos’ long straights, and the early lead faded. Both Russell and his teammate Lewis Hamilton were exposed to their competitors as the race progressed. Russell was overtaken by Norris, and Hamilton had to hold off several opponents.
Wolff: It’s been a bruising day
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Wolff lamented their sprint performance and indicated that the car’s balance may have been off.
“I think we pushed very hard at the beginning,” he said. “The car was not balanced right and then you put in some sliding and it just killed the tyres. It’s what happened to George in Mexico.
“I think we a little bit too weak of a rear end and then it’s balancing them on the knife’s edge, trying to hold onto the pace. It’s maybe something we need to learn for tomorrow, but a bruising day.
“I don’t believe that everything can be fixed by simply turning a big screw. Everything worked against us today, so we really need to think carefully about what we can do better tomorrow. I have no interest in the past. Not a great day.
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