F1 News: Toto Wolff Confident About W15 – “Good Foundation That We Can Build On”

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff is optimistic about the team’s latest car, the W15, stating it provides a solid foundation for the upcoming season. Wolff’s positive assessment comes ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking Mercedes’ renewed hopes after two challenging seasons.

Key Takeaways:

• New Car Development: The W15 signifies a fresh start for Mercedes after facing difficulties in the ground effect era. Toto Wolff emphasizes its role as a stable foundation for future development.
• Improved Performance: Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have given positive feedback about the W15, suggesting it behaves better than its predecessors.
• Season Anticipation: Wolff anticipates a competitive season with Red Bull as their main rival but expresses confidence in Mercedes’ readiness to tackle the challenges ahead.

As Formula 1 gears up for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Wolff sheds light on the team’s perspective heading into the new season. Reflecting on previous struggles, he acknowledges the need for a more consistent and predictable car:

“A new season brings new opportunity and it’s exciting to be heading into a new campaign with all the drama it will inevitably bring.”

Highlighting the team’s objectives for the W15, Wolff explains:

“There was inherent goodness in the W13 and W14, but it often proved too difficult to unlock. They were inconsistent machines. Our main aim going into 2024 therefore was clear: create a consistent and stable platform.”

Wolff elaborates on the positive signs observed during pre-season testing:

“Over these first two races, we will get a much better understanding of the job we have done. After pre-season testing though, we can draw some initial conclusions. The drivers are much happier with the overall balance. The basic platform is working as we expected.”

Looking ahead, Wolff acknowledges the tough competition:

“Red Bull, as is to be expected, look to be at the head of the field. The chasing pack looks tight. We will soon get an idea of where we stack up in that. And the task that is ahead of us to close the gap to the front.”

Despite the challenges, Wolff expresses enthusiasm for the season:

“The year ahead is long. There will be many ups, along with the inevitable downs. But this is why we love racing. And now, we can’t wait to get going.”

With anticipation building for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Mercedes fans eagerly await to see if the W15 can live up to expectations and propel the team back to the top of the grid.