Wolff: Mercedes has 'got to step up' to Ferrari's level

  • Published on 04 Oct 2019 14:28
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says the Silver Arrows must step up to the level that Ferrari has set in recent races.

Following the return after the summer break, Ferrari took three consecutive victories and was set to win in Russin before a poorly timed virtual safety car, ironically caused by Sebastian Vettel, allowed Lewis Hamilton to jump Charles Leclerc as the former was still to make a pit stop.

MOREWolff: Sochi outcome showed we must never give up | Bottas leaving 'no stone unturned' to beat Hamilton

Wolff says that Mercedes must make an effort to fix its performance heading into the final five races of the season if it wants to beat Ferrari on merit.

"First, we've got to fix our performance," he said. "You can still fight as hard as you can but if it's not a level playing field then you got to step up.

"And until then, you just have to give it everything, And this is what we did."

Wolff believes that Ferrari's sudden upturn in pace as been brought on by performance gains that the Scuderia outfit has made, coupled by the fact Mercedes has not introduced upgrades to the W10. 

"I think they have continued to make big steps in straight-line performance and they had a good car in Singapore, a good car in Sochi and if you put these dots together, you are setting the benchmark.

"This is what they did in the last two weekends. At the same time, we haven't brought upgrades in a long time to the car and haven't probably managed things as optimum as we can manage.

"But also we have been a bit unlucky with our calls, in the last few races we could have won but didn't." 

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • ashavin301

    Posts: 21

    Since the summer break merc. has made a lot of mistakes in their strategies. The made 1 in russia as well with starting on the mediums and would have surely lost this race if its wasn't for the safety car. The fact you won papered over the cracks. Still, having said that I really hope you guys enjoy this DC and CC as it will probably be your last.

    • + 0
    • Oct 4 2019 - 15:10
  • f1ski

    Posts: 726

    BS

    • + 0
    • Oct 4 2019 - 16:07

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 01:30

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 01:30

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country AT
  • Date of b. Jan 12 1972 (53)
  • Place of b. Vienne, Austria, AT
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar