“Our car is not strong enough,” Toto Wolff does not think Mercedes can challenge Red Bull in 2023
Toto Wolf remains realistic about Mercedes's title credentials in 2023.
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Toto Wolff, Image via F1
Mercedes AMG Petronas is looking for a comeback in the 2023 season after a disappointing 2022 season. They aim to catch the front runners, Red Bull, and Ferrari. It is a new dawn, and things are not lo \oking up for the team, unfortunately. The Formula One pre-season testing is underway. The first day went well, and the team gathered the data needed.
They happened to fix their main issue, the porpoising. However, the second day was problematic. The W14, driven by George Russell, stopped on track due to hydraulic failure. This was not the perfect start for the team. Over the winter break, the team tried to resolve all their issues, but it looks like they failed to do so.
Toto Wolff, after the second day of testing, stated, “ We have a really good start on the first testing day but yesterday we had poison in the car. We don’t understand why it didn’t perform. We think we know where it is the hydraulic issue is coming from.” Wolff also made an unpleasant reveal that Mercedes are not strong to fight Red Bull.
Toto Wolff reveals the team is a bit lost as they don’t know where they stand
“No, we have to be realistic. Our car is not strong enough at the moment to really fight at the front. At least not in testing. We need to consolidate and see where we are.” Wolff believes that the W14 is not as competitive as the RB19. Red Bull has an advantage over the other teams going into the 2023 season as reigning champions. They had no bouncing issues and only had to focus on their pace.
Wolff hopes to unlock the potential in W14 and catch Red Bull. But the Austrian is also aware of the possibility that things could either go right or wrong for the team. The pre-season testing is almost ending, and the team is in a pickle. The next time they take their cars to the track will be for the race.
Before the pre-season testing, the team was already worried about the limited time. Lucky for them, they have solved the porpoising issue and now need to focus on the other aspects. Mercedes have always been on top, this is a progressive team with technological advancements. After a tough season last year with just one win, Mercedes, now more than ever, will want to push forward. They would be delighted to have an opportunity to beat Red Bull and win another championship.
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Justin P Joy
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