Motorsport Week
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • Formula 1
    • 2025 Formula 1 Calendar
    • 2025 Formula 1 Standings
  • Formula E
    • 2025 Formula E Calendar
    • 2025 Formula E Standings
  • IndyCar
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WRC
    • 2025 WRC Standings
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
  • MotoGP
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
  • WEC
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • IMSA
    • 2025 IMSA Calendar
  • World SBK
  • More
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
    • Technical Insight
    • Galleries
    • About/Contact
    • Privacy Policy
No Result
View All Result
Motorsport Week
Home Single Seater Formula 1

Wolff admits Mercedes unlikely to catch Red Bull in 2023

by Taylor Powling
2 years ago
A A
0
Wolff admits Mercedes unlikely to catch Red Bull in 2023

George Russell (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W14 leads Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB19. 19.03.2023. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Race Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Coates / XPB Images

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has conceded that it is unrealistic to expect Mercedes to catch up to Red Bull in the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Although Mercedes has not suffered a repeat of the porpoising that stifled its early season form in 2022, its evolutionary W14 has struggled for speed again in the opening rounds.

The Silver Arrows appear to have dropped behind engine customer Aston Martin in the pecking order, while Red Bull has asserted a dominant stranglehold on the sport.

The reigning champions have registered successive 1-2 finishes to begin the campaign, with Mercedes finishing over half a second adrift in both races.

RelatedPosts

McLaren has insisted Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri remain free to race

McLaren committed to allowing drivers to race despite F1 Canadian GP clash

25 minutes ago
(L to R): Flavio Briatore (ITA) Alpine F1 Team Executive Advisor with Luca de Meo (ITA) Groupe Renault Chief Executive Officer on the grid. 01.06.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 9, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain, Race Day

Renault CEO resignation sparks doubt on Alpine F1 project

1 hour ago

Red Bull’s margin of superiority over the rest and Mercedes’ troubles have led Wolff to state it wouldn’t be a realistic proposition to think it could catch F1’s current benchmark team this year.

“We’re just two races in this year, but is it realistic when we look at the gaps? No, it’s not,” Wolff told Autosport.

“But we just want to give it all we have and then see what the outcome of that is.

“We’ve been able to catch up a lot last year with a car that was bouncing way too much, and that in a way was overshadowing everything.  

“Finally we won a race and got closer to them, and I think that needs to be the aspiration.” 

The rude awakening it received in Bahrain prompted Wolff to defiantly outline that Mercedes would have to move away from its revolutionary zero sidepod concept.

Having promised visible changes to its car in the coming races, Mercedes is aiming to bring an extensive upgrade package to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in May.

However, Wolff has highlighted that it could potentially take the Brackley-based outfit up to an entire year before it can equip its drivers with the machinery to challenge the Red Bulls.

“I think the length [of time] is probably between six and 12 months, because that’s the time that it really took for us [last year] to figure out what was actually happening with the car,” he explained. 

“That means we just need to have double the development speed, so a stronger development slope.

“The logic and rational speaks that for Red Bull, their gains are going to be incrementally smaller if the concept is mature.  

“I think aero wise, and with wind tunnel time, that can help a bit but not hugely.

“It’s just, we’ve just got to get our act together and, if we fundamentally understand where we need to put the car, then the steps are going to be large. But we need to be perfect.” 

After a more positive showing in Saudi Arabia to eclipse Ferrari, George Russell is confident that Mercedes has “some more performance in the locker” for the races to come.

Heading to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes currently occupies third spot in the Constructors’ standings despite its disappointing start.

The eight-time F1 champions are level on points with Aston Martin and 12 clear of Ferrari but already a substantial 49 points behind Red Bull’s leading tally of 87.

Tags: F1MercedesRedBullWolff
Share198Tweet124Share

Related Posts

(L to R): Flavio Briatore (ITA) Alpine F1 Team Executive Advisor with Luca de Meo (ITA) Groupe Renault Chief Executive Officer on the grid. 01.06.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 9, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain, Race Day
Formula 1

Renault CEO resignation sparks doubt on Alpine F1 project

1 hour ago
Kirkwood was all smiles after his first oval victory. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
IndyCar

Kyle Kirkwood earns unlikely IndyCar win under the lights at Gateway

4 hours ago
George Russell keeps his fourth career victory in F1
Formula 1

George Russell escapes penalty after Red Bull protest to maintain F1 Canada victory

6 hours ago
Load More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Upcoming Races

#EventDate
10Canadian GP13-15 June
11Austrian GP27-29 June
12British GP04-06 July
13Belgian GP25-27 July
14Hungarian GP01-03 August

Click here for the full 2025 F1 calendar

Drivers’  Standings

#DriverPts
Oscar Piastri186
Lando Norris176
Max Verstappen137
George Russell111
Charles Leclerc95
Lewis Hamilton71
Andrea Kimi Antonelli48
Alexander Albon42
Isack Hadjar28
Esteban Ocon20

Click here for full Drivers’ Standings

Latest Articles

(L to R): Flavio Briatore (ITA) Alpine F1 Team Executive Advisor with Luca de Meo (ITA) Groupe Renault Chief Executive Officer on the grid. 01.06.2025. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 9, Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Spain, Race Day
Formula 1

Renault CEO resignation sparks doubt on Alpine F1 project

June 16, 2025
George Russell keeps his fourth career victory in F1
Formula 1

George Russell escapes penalty after Red Bull protest to maintain F1 Canada victory

June 16, 2025
George Russell Max Verstappen
Formula 1

George Russell’s F1 Canadian GP win in jeopardy after Red Bull protest

June 15, 2025

Follow Motorsport Week

Join our daily motorsport newsletter

* indicates required

Motorsport Week

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd

Other Links

  • About & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Motorsport Monday

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Home
  • Formula 1
    • Latest News
    • 2025 F1 Calendar
    • 2025 F1 Championship Standings
  • Formula E
    • Latest News
    • 2025 FE Calendar
    • 2025 FE Championship Standings
  • MotoGP
    • Latest News
    • 2025 MotoGP Calendar
    • 2025 MotoGP Standings
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • WRC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WRC Calendar
    • 2025 WRC Standings
  • IndyCar
    • Latest News
    • 2025 IndyCar Calendar
    • 2025 IndyCar Standings
  • WEC
    • Latest News
    • 2025 WEC Calendar
  • Live Updates
  • Other
    • IMSA
    • Formula 2
    • Formula 3
    • F1 Academy
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • World Superbikes
  • Galleries
  • About/Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 Motorsport Media Services Ltd