“We are much closer”: Toto Wolff confident about Mercedes’ winning chances in 2024

Mercedes Executive Director Toto Wolff is confident of Mercedes winning the 2024 season. Speaking to onsite media after the race in Spain, the Austrian felt that Mercedes could bridge the gap in development between themselves and the front runners.

After a poor start to their 2024 campaign, Mercedes has managed to clinch a podium in the last two races. George Russell secured third place in Canada and Lewis Hamilton was able to do the same in Spain. Nevertheless, they have been closer to the front runners in terms of performance as compared to earlier in the year, when they were battling the midfield.

In Spain, Russell’s strategy on the hard tire proved to be wrong which denied him the chance of a podium or chasing a win. But Hamilton’s late charge on a used soft tire proved to be the right strategy and helped him secure a podium. Mercedes brought upgrades in Monaco which paid dividends in the last two races, but it was not enough to challenge Red Bull or McLaren for a win.

Wolff believes that the gap between Mercedes and its rivals Red Bull and McLaren has closed down significantly. He reckons that the gap was not more than three-tenths of a second in Spain. Given that they have a good rate of development and are on an upward trajectory, the 52-year-old felt that they are inching closer to winning races in 2024.

Asked if it was too early to convince themselves of their chances of winning, the Mercedes boss replied:

“When you look where we ended up, obviously George on the hard, was the wrong strategy. Clearly goes on the team and we had a slow stop or so with three seconds. But if you look at where Lewis was, 15 seconds behind the leaders and whilst taking the pace out at the end, so maybe call it 10 seconds. So that's much closer. They weren't holding back Max and Norris. So yeah, it's the reason to be carefully optimistic that we are that we are much closer and we'll be able to fight.”

Asked if Mercedes could expect a win any time soon, Wolff said:

“I think what you've seen yesterday and also today that the gap is probably around three-tenths to these two and that's what is missing and if we're able to bridge that, bearing in mind they also put upgrades on the car. I think yeah then we could be racing for a victory. But that's not on the hands yet. Montreal with the conditions here we could have won. But probably we surprised ourselves that we could, and that's why we dropped the ball there.”

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Mercedes boss feels McLaren and Red Bull are setting the benchmark in performance

Toto Wolff reckons that McLaren does have the quickest car, based on their performance in Spain. Lando Norris was able to secure pole position and was close to a win in the race.

The Silver Arrows chief felt that it was difficult to know the true pace of McLaren because Max Verstappen was outperforming his car. But he believes that both Red Bull and McLaren have set the performance benchmark for the rest of the grid.

Asked if McLaren had the quickest car based on the Spanish GP performance, Wolff said:

“Yeah, today the McLaren looked very quick. How quick? I don't know. I think Max always has a little bit in the pocket, you could see that he makes the difference. But definitely these two at the moment, there's not a lot between these two, but they are definitely setting the benchmark.”

With Mercedes swinging their performance, the 2024 championship is wide open with more than three contenders challenging Red Bull. A significant factor contributing towards their improved performance in the last two races has been the new front wing they brought to Monaco.

Despite Ferrari being quicker at the street circuit, conventional circuits like Montreal and Canada were a better indicator of their improved pace. Currently, they are fourth in the championship with a significant gap to Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren. But their upward trajectory could spice up the championship battle for the remaining races on the calendar.