“I think we were challenged a lot in 2019” – Toto Wolff explains how Ferrari contributed to Mercedes’ reliability problems

Toto Wolff has pointed out that Mercedes’ reliability problems arose out of an effort to match Ferrari’s superior pace in 2019.

Despite a more powerful engine, Scuderia Ferrari 2019 lost both the drivers ‘and constructors’ championships to Mercedes. The Italian team even has to face some background research on the aggregate. However, the team and the FIA ​​have made an undisclosed agreement on a new power unit for 2020.

The same engine that Ferrari lags behind in the 2021 championship. Ferrari is currently fighting McLaren for third place in the constructors’ championship. In the drivers’ championship he is now sixth and seventh with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

Solid result for Ferrari in Mexico yesterday except for 3rd place in the constructors’ championship it now only has to hold 4 races to go. I will be close to Mclaren. # F1 pic.twitter.com/oiCLpsJD14

– Shabz (@PoshShabz) November 8, 2021

However, Toto Wolff said the 2019 performance boost to compete with Ferrari is the catalyst for current engine problems at Mercedes.

The team based in Brackley had received enough network penalties due to a severely degraded unit, explained Wolff. “I think we were challenged a lot in 2019 and in 2020 we came up with an aggregate that was right there.”

Also read: Evidence against Mercedes for technical violation of DRS appears in Lewis Hamilton’s car

Toto Wolff wants to go ahead with a newfound reliability

Before Honda withdrew from Formula 1 at the end of the current season, Honda put all its resources to supply Red Bull with its 2022 engine a year early. While Mercedes hopes to be able to carry over the performance of its engine along with the newly gained reliability to the next season.

Wolff said, “We’re fighting an extremely potent and reliable Honda engine and these guys have put all the resources they can possibly use into this last season.”

“It is fair enough and will remain, in a certain way frozen, the engine for the next few years. So we have to make sure we start next year with an engine that is as good as it is now. But one that can actually get through the season without suffering engine penalties, ”he added.

Also read: McLaren promises to take action against Ferrari’s rise in the constructors’ championship