Mercedes’ recent string of unfortunate events, from their troubles in Brazil to missed opportunities in Las Vegas, is a cause for concern for team boss Toto Wolff. However, he remains optimistic about their chances of returning to the podium at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The team’s main goal is to fend off Ferrari and secure second place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Currently, Mercedes holds a narrow four-point advantage over their Italian rivals. Interestingly, this is the same margin that existed after the season-opening race in Bahrain earlier this year. Despite the setback in Las Vegas, where their pace improved significantly compared to Brazil, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell encountered various challenges.
Lewis Hamilton, who finished in seventh place, faced unfortunate collisions that caused him to lose ground. Meanwhile, George Russell’s promising fourth-place finish was marred by a five-second penalty for a collision with Max Verstappen, resulting in an eighth-place finish for the young British driver. On the other hand, Ferrari secured second place with Charles Leclerc and a respectable sixth place with Carlos Sainz. Their strong performance allowed them to outscore Mercedes by 16 points, putting them in striking distance for the season finale.
Expressing his disappointment, Toto Wolff acknowledged Mercedes’ pace in Las Vegas but lamented the lack of results. He particularly highlighted the incident involving George Russell and Max Verstappen, which effectively ended any hopes of a better position. Despite the setbacks, Wolff remains hopeful for a strong comeback in Abu Dhabi, stating that they showed promising pace during the race.
Looking back at the controversial conclusion of the 2021 drivers’ title race in Abu Dhabi, where Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton started with equal points, Wolff couldn’t resist taking a subtle jab at former race director Michael Masi. He emphasized that this time, they are entering the final race on equal points, with a race director he seemingly has more confidence in. With everything on the line, Wolff is ready to embrace the challenge and reiterated the need to focus on the race itself.
Ultimately, Wolff acknowledges the strength of Ferrari’s performance this season and the opportunity for Mercedes to secure a positive result by finishing in second place in the championship. However, he emphasizes that second or third place alone won’t fully satisfy him. The team’s ultimate goal is to continuously strive for excellence and secure a strong finish to the season.
Mercedes is determined to put their recent misfortunes behind them and make a triumphant return to the podium in Abu Dhabi. With their sights set on holding off Ferrari, Toto Wolff and the team are ready to face any challenges that come their way and deliver a solid performance in the season finale.
Mercedes vs Ferrari in F1 2023
| Mercedes | Ferrari | |
| Points | 392 | 388 |
| Wins | 0 | 1 |
| Podiums | 7 | 8 |
| Poles | 1 | 7 |
| Two-car points finishes | 14 | 13 |
| Laps led | 19 | 117 |
| DNF/DNS/DSQ | 5/0/1 | 4/2/1 |
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