Wolff: Mercedes 'in a learning race', pushing to bring gains

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says his team is still in learning mode regarding its troubled 2022 car, but pushing to steadily improve the performance of its W13 Silver Arrow.

Mercedes achieved a reasonably good result in Bahrain, but there was no way to sugar-coat the Brackley squad's weekend in Jeddah where George Russell finished fifth, well adrift from F1's front-running Red Bull-Ferrari duo, and where Lewis Hamilton crossed the checkered flag a lowly tenth.

It was the seven-time world champion's worst race weekend with Mercedes in his nine season with the championship-winning outfit.

Chronic porpoising issues and lack of downforce are at the center of Mercedes problems, but Wolff assures that the team is channeling all its resources to properly understand and solve its plight.

"We are in a learning race and the first two weekends have shown we still have plenty to learn," said the Austrian in Mercedes' Australian Grand Prix preview.

"At the moment, our track performance is not meeting our own expectations, but everyone at Brackley and Brixworth is focused on understanding the problems and finding the right solutions.

"There won't be a magic fix for the next race weekend, but we're pushing to steadily bring gains over the up-coming races, to hopefully move us closer to the front of the pack.

"Until then, we need to maximise each opportunity and make the most of the package we have."

Read also: Mercedes explain Hamilton's botched qualifying in Jeddah

Wolff says that Hamilton and Russell are sparing no effort to help their team turn itself around.

"So, there are various challenges ahead of us, but that's something we relish and is when a team really shows its true spirit," he added.

"Lewis and George are making an important contribution to the overall effort, providing feedback, spending time in the simulator and working together to help push us forward."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.