Mercedes might be the only team other than Red Bull that has won a race since the action resumed after the summer break in 2022, but their subpar performance has been strongly scrutinized, especially by their own drivers and their Team Principal.
Next week’s Singapore Grand Prix is predicted to be a weekend where the Brackley-based team has the potential to excel with its high downforce package on a low grip circuit.
However, Toto Wolff insisted on managing expectations of the W14, especially with how close and variant the order is in behind Red Bull every weekend.
“Last year and this year, I’ve been careful with my predictions because I could be saying in high downforce, ‘horray we’re going to be right behind Red Bull in two weeks’, but you don’t know. That is the truth.
“The teams that are from second to sixth can be pretty close together. One time it’s us, and then it’s Ferrari, and then it’s McLaren, then again it’s Aston Martin.
“But we are consistently scoring with two cars. We are solid second in the Constructors Championship. Hopefully soon third in the drivers’ championship with Lewis.
“I think we are delivering the best possible job considering the car’s lack of performance.”
Photo credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
The FIA has been closely examining flexible wings over the first half of this season because it thinks teams have been going beyond what is permitted. Around the time of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, it is believed that several teams, including Aston Martin, were told to modify the designs of their front wings in order to avoid breaking any rules, sending them clear instructions on what is legal and what is not, but they have been allowed to continue using their current designs until the Singapore Grand Prix next weekend.
When asked about whether he thinks the flexible wings were affecting some teams’ performances earlier in the season and how he thinks next week’s race should shape up, the Austrian explained: “It’s going to be interesting. I think with the Aston Martin, you’ve seen that they made a step backwards with that front wing moving less.
“Let’s wait and see. I don’t know who is exploiting that to more degree, not a bigger degree than others.
“But if maybe Red Bull is half a second slower suddenly, that would be nice. But I don’t think it will be the case.”
