Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that they’ve unraveled the mysteries behind their dismal showing at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Their São Paulo weekend took a nosedive, resulting in George Russell’s DNF and Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing eighth-place finish, a stark contrast to Russell’s prior potential victory in Brazil a year ago—Mercedes’ only win since the F1 2021 season ended.
The team’s bewildering performance prompted widespread speculation from their own ranks, the media, and fans, all seeking answers for the Silver Arrows’ unexpected struggle.
As F1 gears up for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Wolff addressed the Brazilian Grand Prix disaster in his preview notes. However, there’s a catch—Mercedes is keeping their newly acquired insights under wraps.
“After promising performances in the US and Mexico, we didn’t perform at our best in Brazil,” Wolff said.
“We have been hard at work to identify the wrong turn we took with the set-up; we have done that. We understand our mistakes and can explain our performance loss to the field. That’s important as we look to secure P2 in the Constructors’ Championship.”
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Wolff quickly shifted focus to the upcoming high-stakes Las Vegas Grand Prix, shedding light on the considerable uncertainty among teams entering this major event and emphasizing the extensive behind-the-scenes efforts at the Silver Arrows.
He continued: “In parallel, we have been preparing for the challenge of racing at a venue that is a complete unknown. We have prepared the best we can, using the limited information we have, and there are some unique characteristics we can anticipate. The schedule is offset compared to other races.
“We’ll be running at night, where ambient and track temperatures will likely be in the single digits. Plus, the track layout itself is unusual with many slow corners but long straights.
“It’s going to be a big challenge for us all and we’re looking forward to taking it on.
“It will also be an immense effort off-track.
“We have an impressive guest hosting programme including our own three-storey Vegas Club next to Turn 4. Media interest will be through the roof and seeing the cars race down the Las Vegas Strip will be one of the most exciting moments of the season.
“The eyes of the sporting world will be on F1, and we look forward to putting on a spectacular show. It is going to be something truly special to witness.”
