Wolff: Mercedes ‘not taking anything for granted’ in fight for P2

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says his squad is “not taking anything for granted” as the fight for second place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship intensifies heading into this weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The Brackley outfit surged back into the runner-up position after its best collective haul of the year in Brazil, where Kimi Antonelli and George Russell amassed 43 points across the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

The strong result brought welcome momentum, but Wolff stressed it guarantees nothing in what has been a volatile midfield landscape behind runaway leaders McLaren.

A Battle to the Bitter End

With three races remaining, Mercedes is drawing confidence from recent gains but remains wary of rivals capable of closing the gap quickly.

That wariness comes not only from the championship picture but also from last year’s precedent in Las Vegas, where Russell led a 1–2 finish ahead of Lewis Hamilton on a circuit layout that suited the team’s 2024 car concept.

Yet even Russell cautioned recently that repeating such dominance would be difficult, telling reporters he would be “very surprised if we were as strong as last year” on the low-grip, high-speed Strip Circuit.

Wolff echoed that sentiment, noting that recent form should not lull the team into assuming P2 is theirs to lose.

“On track, we've re-established our advantage in the battle for P2. We are not taking anything for granted though,” the Austrian said in Mercedes’ Vegas preview.

“We saw across Austin and Mexico just how quickly that gap can disappear and, whilst our performance last year in Las Vegas may have raised expectations externally for this weekend, we are not getting carried away.

“The field is incredibly competitive and it is going to be a battle right until the bitter end in Abu Dhabi. We have three weeks of hard racing ahead to decide who comes out on top and we are ready to get going.”

Unique Challenges Under the Neon Lights

For Mercedes, Las Vegas is as much a spectacle as it is a sporting test. Wolff emphasised the distinct nature of the event – now in its third year – as both a challenge for teams and a major draw for Formula 1’s expanding fanbase.

“The Las Vegas weekend is unlike anything else in F1,” he said. “Racing down the Strip at night has already become an iconic part of the calendar, with the high-speed layout proving an interesting challenge and providing great racing.

“It has drawn in both existing and new fans to our sport and I am sure will continue to do so for many years to come. The first two editions were spectacular and I am sure this year will be even bigger and better.”

Mercedes’ form at Interlagos has encouraged hopes of another competitive showing, but Wolff maintained that the team’s approach remains measured.

With conditions in Las Vegas expected to be similarly cool and unpredictable, preparations will focus on execution rather than expectation.

As the final triple-header of the season begins, Wolff’s tone leaves little doubt about the mindset inside the garage: confident but cautious, determined but realistic – fully aware that the fight for second will likely stretch all the way to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi.

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