Mercedes “over-performed” by claiming top six places on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix, Toto Wolff claims.
The early-season struggles for the Brackley-based team have continued in Melbourne with both drivers ending Friday practice outside the top 10.
But on Saturday, progress was made as Lewis Hamilton pipped teammate George Russell in qualifying, albeit behind Lando Norris’ McLaren in P4.
“That was a good result for us today – in fact, we probably slightly over-performed with P5 and P6, because I think [Fernando] Alonso would have been ahead of us without his crash and [Carlos] Sainz,” Wolff said post-session.
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“But when you consider the challenges we are facing at the moment, the team worked very well to extract everything from the car after two difficult practice sessions yesterday.
“The drivers maximised their opportunities with the car that’s under them right now, and it’s great to see the positive approach they are bringing to each session as we continue learning.”
On Friday, Hamilton sounded increasingly frustrated by the problems faced with the W13 claiming nothing “makes a difference” to its performance.
But Wolff played down that claim.
“I think set-up directions are very, very important and we have seen the drivers were much happier with the car today than yesterday,” he said.
“Night and day were the words that Lewis chose.
“We are talking a couple of tenths, maybe a little bit more. The long runs will be interesting but there is a gremlin in our car, or a few gremlins, that we haven’t found yet.
“That is something we need to continue to analyse and look at the data. As I have said before, it is physics not mystics.”
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Indeed, maintaining their grid places and racing Norris ahead appears the most likely goal for Mercedes on Sunday.
“I think we are just learning the car, we are learning the tyres. Nothing this weekend has unlocked the aerodynamic potential or has reduced the bouncing. We are still at the same place and that is why it doesn’t make any sense to bring updates,” Wolff explained.
“You confuse yourself even more. Maybe it is even the fact that the more downforce you bring, the worse the bouncing gets so we are still learning.”