Wolff: Mexico proved Mercedes W14 ‘still tricky to master’

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Toto Wolff says Mercedes took another step forward last weekend in Mexico where the team enjoyed a solid haul of points but insists its W14 car remains a tricky beast to master.

There was no challenging Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, but Lewis Hamilton executed a solid race that landed the seven-time world champion in second position at the checkered flag.

George Russell on the other hand had to manage soaring brake temperatures which in turn led to tyre struggles that left him sixth in the running order at the end of the day.

But overall, Mercedes maintained its runner-up spot and 22-point advantage over Ferrari in the Constructor’ standings with three rounds to go.

“We came away from Mexico with our advantage over Ferrari in the fight for second in the Constructors' intact. That is an important battle for us and one we are focused on winning,” commented Wolff.

“Leaving Mexico with a second-place finish, given the challenging start to the weekend and our grid positions, was positive.

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“The car showed very good race pace however we know we've got more work to do to extract the maximum from the W14 across all three days.

“Lewis put in a very strong performance to score a podium and George gave it absolutely everything, even when his tyres had gone off at the end.”

Mercedes now heads to Sao Paulo in Brazil, a place of good memories for Mercedes and for Russell especially as the Briton claimed his maiden win in F1 last year at Interlagos.

“We've got one last race in this triple header and it's in Brazil,” said Wolff.

“We know we've taken a good step forward in recent races, but Mexico showed W14 can still prove tricky to master.

“We will look to arrive in Interlagos with a solid baseline to work with and we'll see what we can do from there.

“Of course, we have fond memories from Brazil, especially the past two visits with Lewis' spectacular win in 2021 and George's first victory in 2022.

“The fans are super passionate about F1, and we always get such an enthusiastic reception from them.

“Hopefully our package will run well there, and we can put on a good show for everyone.”

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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.