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Toto Wolff admits that it was a "negative day" for Mercedes

17:10, 27 Sep 2019

byTom Mason

Mercedes once again struggled in FP1 and FP2 with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen topping the respective sessions in Russia. Valtteri Bottas finished up 4th and 3rd in the two sessions, while Lewis Hamilton ended up in 5th and 4th in the two sessions, while Leclerc once more looked impressive in the Ferrari.

“It was a negative day, to put it bluntly, Wolff said.

“We’re just off the pace and struggling to find the right clues at the moment.

Mercedes have failed to win the last three races since the break with Ferrari completely dominating, winning all three races.

“We haven’t improved. We didn’t put a lot of effort into developing the car, that might be the reason also.

“Also others have disproportionately gained and we have lost. In the end it’s all down to where you have the tyres in my opinion.

Coming into the Russian Grand Prix, Mercedes lead the constructors' championship by 133 points over Ferrari, despite them performing well in recent weeks.

“In the last three races we have not been on pole anymore and in the race we were always catching up and being on the Ferrari gearbox.

"But it’s just not enough because we’re missing straight-line speed and don’t have enough through the corners.

“Ferrari have probably understood better how their car functions.”