Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has conceded that the remaining tracks in the 2024 Formula 1 season will provide the team with limited chances to obtain a “good” result.
The German marque bagged more silverware as George Russell managed to pick up his third podium this season with third place during a riveting race in Azerbaijan.
However, Russell was on course to trail home in fifth position until Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz’s contentious penultimate lap crash promoted him onto the rostrum.
Wolff has acknowledged that Russell’s third-place finish exceeded the result that Mercedes merited based on how competitive its package was versus the opposition.
“Inheriting a podium and finishing third is better than we expected, but we are not fooling ourselves that, on pace today, we were P5,” said Wolff.
“We will analyse the race and weekend as a whole. The second half of our grand prix on the hard tyre was encouraging.
“George was able to keep the temperatures under control and, having driven within himself early in the stint, was able to deliver strong pace in the closing stages.”
Meanwhile, team-mate Lewis Hamilton was resigned to a challenging race when he was demoted to a pitlane start due to new power unit parts and set-up alterations.
The seven-time F1 champion lamented extreme balance issues with his W15 car as he struggled to make progress and crossed the line in a disappointing ninth place.
Wolff has admitted that Mercedes was aware that Hamilton was poised to encounter trouble climbing through the order owing to the difficulties in overtaking at Baku.
“We decided to do the engine change here [in Azerbaijan],” he added.
“We knew that it’s going to be a race of misery, because it’s so difficult to overtake in Baku, and that’s what it was.
“The moment you come closer, you overheat the tyres, and then you go backwards, and I think this is what happened to him. But lots to learn.”
Wolff not hopeful on remaining F1 rounds
Mercedes has been unable to maintain the momentum that saw it clinch three victories in four races prior to the summer break since the season resumed last month.
With Ferrari and McLaren appearing to have stolen a march at the front, Wolff suspects that Mercedes will have restricted chances to compete in the last seven races.
With seven rounds remaining and a 115-gap to bridge to Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, Wolff
“I think where we’ve traditionally been fast was Barcelona, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, at times,” the Austrian addressed.
“What’s the next one that’s coming? Austin was a good one for us [last season]. Brazil was a good one for us [in 2022]. Not so many good ones left.”
