Mercedes Team Principal 'Never' Optimistic Amid 2024 Development Race
F1Saturday, 02 December 2023 at 00:00
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed he is never optimistic amid his team's hopes for success going into 2024.
As Toto Wolff himself said, Mercedes has a Mount Everest to climb going into the 2024 season as they plan to change almost every single component of the car.
The 2023 season showed the current concept is not working, so Silver Arrows seem to have decided to change the direction again, and as George Russell said, Mercedes is taking a clean slate into next year's car.
The Mercedes driver also revealed the team is not at all surprised by the lack of pace to the Red Bull at the front as they are now aware of all the issues with current concepts, which sparks motivation back at the factory.
On the other hand, the Mercedes team principal said he does not feel optimistic as he never felt optimistic about anything. He told motorsport.com:
"I have never in my life felt optimistic about anything. It may sound a bit miserable, but it's protected me about managing my expectations and just pushing harder. Because I think it's never good enough."
On one hand, Mercedes won the final race battle over Ferrari to seal second place in the Constructors' Championship. On the other hand, Wolff says he still sees it as losing the P1.
"That's why I sit here with a bittersweet feeling. We won P2 [in the constructors' championship], but we lost P1."
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the last race of the 2023 season, but a new race starts right away and that is the car development race as all teams completely shift their focus until March 2024. Wolff concluded:
"We must leave no stone unturned, which we do in Brixworth and Brackley. And as tough as it is to be reminded that it's just P2, it's also a great, great opportunity to come back and strive for the stars."
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