Wolff sets sights on Chinese Grand Prix: 'Looking to hold our own'
F1 News
- Savannah Lenz
Mercedes is headed in the right direction for the 2025 season; this is the most competitive start they have had in recent years, as they have not flourished under the current regulations. Mercedes currently sits in second place, only 1 point behind McLaren.
George Russell will start the Chinese Grand Prix on the first row after qualifying second. While speaking to Sky Sports, Toto Wolff commented on his Russell’s session. “Finally, on this ultimate lap, he just got it super right, and I think it was good teamwork. Then, on his lap, he's able to put it together like he did, and that's the result.”
About how delicate the tyres are, he mentioned, “It's a science for everyone, and you can see this fluctuate, like the Ferraris were so dominant yesterday and today their fifth and sixth, but it also so tight in the time, it's a discovery mission.”
Wolff on Mercedes's efforts and teamwork
In the Mercedes Press release, he mentioned the struggle with the tyres once more. “We were struggling to get the tyres in the right window throughout Qualifying. We kept at it, though, worked as a team, and got it right at the end of the session. George was able to put the whole lap together, and P2 was the result. It was a great effort and another calm and composed performance from him."
Regarding rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Wolff said, "Kimi had good speed in Q3 but was unfortunate to lose time on his final lap in the last sector. Without that, he would have been challenging for the top six. Nevertheless, it was a more valuable experience for him in what was the first Q3 appearance of his career."
The team principal then looked forward to tomorrow and what it could mean for Mercedes. “Tomorrow’s race is set up to be very interesting. We expect the McLarens to be strong whilst the Ferraris were the stand-out in this morning’s Sprint. Starting from P2, we will be looking to hold our own in the early stages and see where we net out. Nobody has run the Hard compound tyre yet so that is an unknown going into Sunday. Let’s see what we can do."
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