Toto Wolff says he doesn’t like to feel optimistic as much but he adds that he has protected him from managing his expectations.
Mercedes’ Wolff has talked about not being too optimistic even at good times. And he thinks that is how it works for him as he can manage his expectations well then and it allows him to continue hustling and pushing the team forward.
There was a bittersweet moment when Mercedes finished second in 2023, as the goal is to win the championship for them. Mercedes had to change their concept for 2024 in pursuit of that, but they are keeping the scepticism which pushes them forward.
“I have never in my life felt optimistic about anything, which makes me sound a little bit miserable,” said Wolff. “But it’s protected me about managing my expectations and just pushing harder, because I think it’s never good enough. That’s why I had a bittersweet feeling that we won P2 but we lost P1. And we are changing the concept.
“We’re completely moving away from how we laid out the chassis, the weight distribution, the airflow. There’s almost every component that’s being changed because only by doing that do I think we have a chance. We could get it wrong, so between not gaining what we expect to catch up and making a big step, and competing at the front, everything is possible.
“If you ask me, there’s always scepticism, but that’s the mentality in the team and that you know that pushes us forward to never give up,” summed up Wolff, who looking ahead to 2024 wants races like how it was in Qatar where the drivers were running flat out.
“We’ve got to wait and see what happens in Bahrain and how the season is going to pan out. So let’s wait and see how it goes, and let’s see how the Pirelli tyres are going to handle 2024 cars. But it is, when you’re looking at it, overtaking has gotten worse, and it’s all about thermal management – so I’d like to have races like Qatar, where you just go flat out,” summed up Wolff.
Here’s F1 2023 teams’ tier order: https://formularapida.net/f1-2023-teams-categorised-in-tier-system-for-their-performances/
Here’s F1 2023 drivers’ tier order: https://formularapida.net/f1-2023-drivers-categorised-in-tier-system-for-their-performances/
Here’s Lewis Hamilton on having faith
Here’s Mercedes and Luminar’s partnership news
Here’s Toto Wolff on both Mercedes and Ferrari being losers
Here’s George Russell on not being worried about Red Bull
Here’s Lewis Hamilton says Silverstone shakedown made it clear about 2023
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