F1 News: Toto Wolff Lays Out Mercedes Plan For Saudi Arabian GP - "More Consistent Weekend"
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff spoke of the frustrated weekend faced by the team over cooling issues on the W15 F1 car in Bahrain before laying out the plan for a more consistent weekend in Saudi Arabia on the Jeddah street circuit.
Key Takeaways:
- Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addresses cooling issues with the W15 F1 car in Bahrain, aiming for a more consistent performance in Jeddah's street circuit.
- Drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell faced cooling problems during the race, impacting their finishes.
- Williams, a Mercedes customer team, also encountered cooling issues with their FW46, emphasizing the need for Mercedes to refine their approach for the upcoming race in Jeddah.
Mercedes Press Image
Drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had to endure cooling issues on their W15s in race conditions, and thus, they finished the opening race in P7 and P5, respectively. Wolff claimed that the duo lost around six-tenths of a second per lap due to the problem.
Williams, a customer team of Mercedes, also encountered cooling issues with their FW46, indicating the necessity for the Brackley-based team to devise a more robust plan of action in Jeddah.
With the problem masking the W15's true potential, Wolff hinted that the coming weekend is another opportunity to learn more about the car, with the aim of having a more "consistent weekend". He told the media:
“Our race in Bahrain was best described as underwhelming.
“We were hopeful of a stronger showing after our performance in practice and qualifying.
“Both drivers were pleased with the balance earlier in the weekend, and the more stable platform provided by the W15.
“Unfortunately on Saturday evening, our cooling performance didn’t match our predictions. That forced us into management mode early on, which had the knock-on impact of reducing tyre temperatures below optimum.
“That cost us the opportunity to show something closer to our true potential. It was a frustrating way to start the season but one we will learn from.
“We’ve got an opportunity to take a step forward immediately. Jeddah is a street track with a lot of high-speed content.
“It will be good to continue our learning with the new car on a very different circuit to Bahrain. We will be aiming for a more consistent weekend and to understand our true performance relative to the rest of the grid."