Mercedes ready to ‘strike back’ in Brazil after tough run

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Mercedes head to São Paulo with a renewed sense of determination and a clear message from team principal Toto Wolff: they’re not done fighting yet.

After a pair of difficult weekends in Austin and Mexico that saw Ferrari retake the runner-up spot in F1’s Constructors’ Championship, the Brackley squad is set on “striking back” at Interlagos.

Just a single point now separates Mercedes from Ferrari, with Red Bull lurking nine points further behind in a tightening three-way battle for second place in the standings. But Wolff insists the fight is far from over – and that Brazil offers the perfect chance for a comeback.

“Four races to go. Just one point now separates ourselves and Ferrari, with Red Bull only nine further back,” Wolff said in the team’s São Paulo Grand Prix preview.

“We have had a couple of tough weekends but we are still in the fight for P2. Each one of these four events is going to be vital in the battle for second in the Constructors’.

“Whilst our advantage over our rivals disappeared across Austin and Mexico, we can strike back in Brazil.”

Sprint Pressure and the Interlagos Challenge

The São Paulo Grand Prix weekend brings extra intensity as the penultimate Sprint event of the 2025 season. With just one practice session before Sprint Qualifying, there’s minimal time to fine-tune setup and strategy – something Wolff knows can make or break a weekend.

“The penultimate Sprint weekend of the year means we have to be at our very best from the off,” he said. “Interlagos is an old-school circuit with a bumpy surface, elevation changes, and a wide range of corners.

“Add in unpredictable weather and there is little margin for error. No matter what the weekend throws at us our aim is to hit the ground running, execute better than our competitors, and get back in front of our nearest rivals,” he added.

Read also: Russell reveals key clause in Mercedes deal shaping F1 future

With George Russell sitting fourth in the Drivers’ Championship on 258 points and rookie Kimi Antonelli seventh with 97, Mercedes still have firepower to make a decisive push in the closing stages of the season.

After losing ground over the past two rounds, Wolff’s words set the tone: Brazil isn’t just another race – it’s Mercedes’ chance to prove they can regroup, fight back, and reclaim control of the runner-up spot in the Constructors’ standings.

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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.