Mercedes’ Toto Wolff says he is looking the 2020 F1 season as a ‘two-part’ championship, considering that 2021 will always be on the mind.
Due to the massive scale of the 2021 F1 rule changes, which will impact almost every element of the car, teams will have to begin their preparations early for them, allocating resources and time as early as right now, so to be better prepared.
And, it’s for this reason that Mercedes’ team principal Wolff says the upcoming championship will be one of two-parts: the 2020 F1 season and the fight, while the preparations for 2021 will carry on behind the scenes.
It will be expected that the finances will be more towards 2021 and there won’t be a lot of upgrades during the season. “This year’s championship is a two-year championship,” said Wolff. “It is not only about 2020 under the current regulations,.
“But there is such a massive regulatory change for 2021 that balancing your allocation of resources will be crucial. How much of your resources you’re switching into the 2021 car, because obviously the learning and development slope is much steeper.
“So if you get it wrong and you’re months behind you might be half a second behind. And this is a challenge which we have embraced in the past, through two regulatory changes, and we loved that one (referring to the last change in 2014).”
As for the motivation and target for 2020 F1 season, Wolff sees it as another new opportunity, without taking into account what has happened in the past as they all start from zero in the championship and build towards in winning it.
“Every year we try to set the right objectives, and objectives that are being understood throughout the organisation,” said Wolff. “I think it’s so important to wake up with purpose. And I don’t think, I don’t see a lack of motivational purpose within the organisation.
“The pain of losing is so much more intense and lasts so much longer than the joy of winning, and this is what drives us. The sheer thought about losing makes you forget about all your previous achievements.
“Last year’s record doesn’t buy us any credit for the 2020 championship. So all lap times, all points scored go to zero and we are yet again in front of another challenge. And in a way, there was a reason why six was a world record.
“Because it’s bloody difficult! And, we want to push that needle further. I think we are a great group of people that have just found partners that share the same values, and will be pushing us to be successful.”
Here’s Toto Wolff on his, team, Lewis Hamilton’s future
Here’s the full entry list for 2020 F1 season
Here’s update from Andy Cowell for 2020 engine
Here’s update from James Allison for W11
Here’s Lewis Hamilton on contract negotiations
Photo: Hamilton and Bottas drive Mercedes F1 W11 at Silverstone
The story was co-written by Darshan Chokhani
