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Wolff denies Mercedes is set for a 'home run' championship

Published on 16 Mar 2019 14:58
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By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says it is far too early to predict how the championship could shape up in 2019.

The Silver Arrows locked out the front row during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, boasting a seven-tenths of a second gap to Ferrari behind.

However, Wolff played down suggestions that it could be an easy championship for the German manufacturer and believes that Ferrari will continue to be competitive as it has been over the last two years.

“I would like it to continue [this] way of course but I don’t believe this is what we can expect,” Wolff said. “I think the championship is going to be equally fought over like it was last year.

“Just because we had a very good Friday and a very good first Saturday in Melbourne It doesn’t mean this will be a ‘home run’ for the championship.

"On the contrary, I think we will, like last year, need to stretch ourselves to the maximum and leave no stone unturned, like we did after Barcelona, in order to keep ourselves competitive in the way we’ve been today.”

Wolff commended Mercedes' work ethic as it grew throughout the weekend, admitting that he didn't quite trust the pace it showed during Friday practice.

"When we came to Australia and hit the road running on Friday it was difficult to know what to expect," he said. "Whether we were quickest or not quickest, whether it would be very close.

“And we had a great Friday. Didn’t trust it completely. And the car was equally good today. And it’s just all the work that has gone in since we started testing and the analysis since then that put a car on-track that is really fast.

“But it wasn’t the easiest of starts in Barcelona and we can’t judge yet if it’s a bit of an outlier because Melbourne is different, whether generally we have a car that is as fast as it seemed today.”

F1 News Toto Wolff Mercedes

Replies (5)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
My vain hope lie within better Ferrari/RBH racepace and the fact that Melbourne differ a lot from other events, meaning good shows here don't always correlate with being good on other venues. With emphasis on hope.
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- Mar 16 2019 - 15:41
- ajpennypacker
  
  Posts: 2,475
  Last year it looked like that too at the beginning and then Ferrari had the best car in the next 8 races. I'm not concerned.
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  Mar 16 2019 - 21:12
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Iii kinda am, considering a year with Merc' like what we had pre-Ferrari gittin' gud would be a drag. Especially since Im yet to have evidence that Bottas is ready to take it to Hammy. But as I think both you, me and many others have concluded, the midfield is where it's at this year. Popcorn, my dear AJPP?
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  Mar 16 2019 - 22:10
Dert38

Posts: 377
Just exclude Merc & Ferrari & RB and you will receive "competitive" F1. But i really beleive teams has the potential to catch them. Especially McLaren as they proved they can build a car faster then a factory team at least.
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- Mar 16 2019 - 18:48
RogerF1

Posts: 501
I fear the season is doomed to a large portion of predictability . Maybe Merc just tossed another €50M into the pot as the competition were getting a bit close. I’m hoping that at least RB and Ferrari can mix it race after race whilst Hammy decides if wants to let VB win the odd one to dispel any favouritism rumours that would inevitably surface. Hey ho, we will know a bit more b6 tomorrow breakfast. Unfortunately I’ll.be doing the audible only version courtesy of Sky dominatrix.
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- Mar 16 2019 - 19:10