Wolff contradicts Red Bull statement by Hamilton
F1 News
Toto Wolff does not entirely agree with his driver Lewis Hamilton. The Briton suggested earlier this season that it is going to be difficult to catch up with Red Bull Racing before the 2026 rule change. However, Wolff wants to break the Austrian constructor's dominance as soon as possible.
Wolff: 'We need to turn this around'
Since the rule changes in 2022, Red Bull has been the dominant team in Formula 1. Max Verstappen is taking excellent advantage of this, winning no fewer than 32 out of 42 Grands Prix since the start of last season. Past experience has often shown that if a team has an excellent grasp of the regulations right away, that team will lead the way in Formula 1 for a long time, as Wolff also knows.
"We're giving it all to break the cycle. We had five years of dominance of Ferrari, then we had a spell of Red Bull, and then it was us eight times in a row, and now it's the second Constructors Championship for Red Bull, or the third drivers championship with a very good driver. So, with all we have, back in the factory and at the racetrack, we're trying to come up with a car and with an execution that is as good as it can be, and we have a next cycle of regulatory engine in 2026, we've got to turn this around," the Austrian told Bloomberg.
Mercedes already focused on 2024 for some time
The Mercedes team boss also says his team is no longer working on the 2023 car, the W14. In fact, the focus has already shifted to the W15 for a while. "Yes, we have done for quite some while. We're still fighting for the second in the Constructors' Championship. We are second at the moment, and Ferrari is behind us, so that's an interesting one. But deep down, second or third place, doesn't matter. We've got to, with all humility, fight for the front and that's why many months ago already we've switched, and we've transitioned to a new car," Wolff concluded.