Toto Wolff gives Mercedes verdict over first data from 2026 development
Toto Wolff provided the first update over Mercedes's chassis development for the upcoming F1 regulation changes of the 2026 season.
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Toto Wolff (via planetf1)
Mercedes suffered from a rollercoaster of performance in the 2024 season despite scoring some impressive race wins. The team has the massive task to work around the clock in the absence of Lewis Hamilton following his move to Ferrari. The data from the 2025 season won’t be very important as the team will have to prepare for the regulation changes in the 2026 season. Toto Wolff provided his thoughts on the initial data from the development of the chassis.
Mercedes’ start to the ground-effect era was extremely disappointing, to say the least. The team couldn’t score many wins through the regulations let alone contend for the championships. As a result, Brackley is already on the backfoot for the regulation changes of the 2026 season. Regardless, Toto Wolff showcased confidence in the team’s capabilities for chassis development.
Wolff highlighted that the initial data for the 2026 season was coming out of the factory as the engineers ‘respected’ the analyses of the previous chassis. The Austrian reckoned that although the speed of development was good, the team needed to focus on other objectives. The Mercedes boss asserted that setting high enough standards and expectations was important for the team’s impending success.
The first data for 2026 are coming out in the factory and they are respecting some of the analyses we had previously done. This is good, but we are also pushing to reach other objectives. It is all about understanding whether the expectations we have set are high enough.
Toto Wolff told funoanalisitecnica.com
Toto Wolff sets minimum expectations for debutant Kimi Antonelli for 2025
Prodigy Kimi Antonelli is all set to debut for Mercedes in the 2025 season following Lewis Hamilton’s exit. The Italian driver was unable to score notable results during the testing sessions mid-way through the 2024 season. However, Toto Wolff asserted that the team must minimize expectations from the 18-year-old.
Wolff highlighted that Antonelli getting up to speed at the very first race and winning the 2025 Australian GP was almost impossible. The reason for this was that the rookie was still 18 years old and needed to make mistakes first in order to learn from them.
If you expect him to be on pole position in Melbourne, win the race and immediately run for the title, then the risk is high because it will not happen. If we take into account that he is only 18 years old, he is very talented, but he needs to grow up and make mistakes first, the risk is lower.
Toto Wolff told Auto motor und Sport
Toto Wolff diz que 2025 será um ano de transição para Andrea Kimi Antonelli – https://t.co/UXc0QfHFvD
— Autoracing (@adautoracing) January 6, 2025
Mercedes almost might use the 2025 season as a battle between George Russell and Antonelli to ultimately make way for Max Verstappen. Regardless, the German carmaker must improve pace from the beginning of the season to stay in contention for the championship.
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Aditya Pandya
(1524 Articles Published)