Toto Wolff: “This championship will take a very long time and we believe that there will still be lap time left in our car, in our engine and in understanding the setup, instead of adding one or two tenths of downforce.”
Last updated: 05/20/21 5:46 PM
3:21
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff speaks with Ted Kravitz of Sky Sports F1 at the Monaco GP about the team’s car upgrade plan for the rest of 2021
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff speaks with Ted Kravitz of Sky Sports F1 at the Monaco GP about the team’s car upgrade plan for the rest of 2021
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the world champion plans to only make “tiny improvements” to his 2021 car for the remainder of the season as they are now working “at full speed” on the big rule changes for next year.
The reigning seven-time double champion leads this year’s standings again, but appears to be in a year-long battle for the crown against Red Bull, having fought against each other in all four races so far.
But with the specter of one of the largest technical overhauls in decades in 2022, Wolff has signaled that Mercedes will now largely work with what they have on the current W12 – instead of continuing to pursue gradual development improvements in the planned 23-race campaign.
“We are obviously working on optimizing the car and understanding the car and the tires,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1 at the Monaco GP.
“But we are in full swing in 2022.
“There will be tiny improvements [to the W12] That will come, but I think it’s more understandable to understand the concept of this year’s car. Here we are looking for a lap time gain. “
Determined to wrest the championship title from Mercedes for the first time in the current era of turbo-hybrid engines, Red Bull has added further aerodynamic updates to its RB16B for the Monaco GP this weekend.
Wolff believes Mercedes’ approach can pay off as the W12’s chassis and engine have even more untapped potential.
“We’re confident we can fight for it,” added Wolff, whose team had won three races against Red Bull’s by 2021.
“This championship is going to be a very long time and we believe there is still lap time left in our car, in our engine and in understanding the setup, instead of adding a tenth or two-tenths of downforce.
“The rules for next year will be in place for many years to come, and if you start with a disadvantage that will obviously bite you not only for next year but for years to come as well.”
All teams must balance the challenge of being as competitive as possible this season while making sure they are not left behind at the beginning of 2022 when the new regulations hit.
Ferrari said earlier this month they had already shifted 90 to 95 percent of their resources to next season’s car, while backmarkers Haas have openly stated throughout the year that they are putting all of their development efforts into the 2022 regulations.
Delayed by a year due to the pandemic, F1’s new challengers will have simplified aerodynamics to encourage closer racing and the return of the ground effect, along with larger 18-inch wheels and lower-profile tires.
