"Aiming for another strong showing this weekend" - Mercedes boss targets a repeat of Las Vegas GP valiance in the upcoming Qatar GP
The Mercedes F1 team is aiming towards another scintillating show in the upcoming 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. Toto Wolff, the team principal of the Silver Arrows, hinted the same as he is aiming towards another 1-2 in the competition, something they pulled off in the recently concluded Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Mercedes have been mighty in the Nevada race this time around. The Silver Arrows challengers have been very strong right from the start as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell ran riots. Hamilton claimed P1 in both FP1 and FP2 sessions on Friday, whereas George Russell topped the FP3 on Saturday.
Russell's blistering form continued in the qualifying as he snatched the pole position from his rivals. On Sunday, the #63 driver started from the pole and was in full control of the race. Hamilton, on the other hand, had a poor qualifying, which put him in P10. Despite this, he worked his way towards the top as he finished the race in P2.
This was one of the finest race weekends from the Brackley-based team, something they have been missing out on since the 2020 F1 season. As they found their mojo back in Las Vegas, Wolff in his latest statement said that he wants a repeat of their Nevada valiance.
“The races in Las Vegas and Qatar couldn’t be more different," Wolff said. “The Lusail International Circuit has many high-speed sections and few, if any, big braking zones. Despite going there later in the calendar than last year, it will still be very warm."
“That is in contrast to the cool conditions and many slow speed sections of Las Vegas. Nevertheless, we are aiming for another strong showing this weekend," he added. (via PlanetF1)
Even though the Silver Arrows managed to claim 1-2 in the Las Vegas Grand Prix, it made little to no difference in the Constructors' Championship. Toto Wolff's team is in P4 in the Championship, far away from leaders McLaren, P2 Ferrari, and P3 Red Bull.
Toto Wolff lauds Mercedes boys after a stellar Las Vegas GP performance
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has praised Lewis Hamilton and George Russell after the Silver Arrows duo delivered a magnificent race weekend. Wolff particularly hailed how Russell was in total control of the race, and how Hamilton started from P10, to end up in P2.
“George’s driving was just from another planet, he kept it under control and managed it all the time,” Wolff said. “I think his defending from Leclerc was spectacular and Lewis came from P10 with a super strong car, finishing just five seconds behind George, chapeau." (via Formula 1's official website)
As things stand, Mercedes is set to finish their season in P4 in the Constructors' championship, as they are way beyond Aston Martin's (P5) touching distance. Notably, they finished last season in P2, which makes this season an underwhelming one.