Runner-up Valtteri Bottas from Finland and Mercedes GP speaks to Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff in Parc Ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on November 01, 2020 in Imola, Italy.
Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1 / Formula 1
Despite disappointing results in back-to-back races, Toto Wolff insists that Mercedes will not turn its focus away from work on its challenger in 2022.
The team principal was at the forefront of trying to improve his team’s skills on the last weekend of racing in Baku and refused to speak to the media early on as his team was rooted in midfield due to difficulties in pre-qualifying practice.
While Lewis Hamilton was in the lead for most of the race, team-mate Valtteri Bottas stayed outside of the points.
This followed a disappointing Monaco Grand Prix weekend with Hamilton uncompetitive in the race, and Bottas’ infamous wheel nut problem on his pit stop completely ended his race.
Several teams on the grid say they have already put their main focus on their Challenger 2022, with a number of rule changes taking priority as the teams try to get started with the technical spec changes.
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With Hamilton and Mercedes now leaving Max Verstappen and Red Bull behind in the drivers and constructors’ standings, respectively, Wolff says the team is not diverting any further resources into its 2021 car to make up for its current deficit.
“We have already readjusted the plans for 2022 and there is no possibility of a change,” said Wolff after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, quoted by Motorsport.com.
“We’re not going to change decisions that we’ve already made just because we’ve had two complicated weekends.
“We knew that these two races would be the most difficult for us. Now we have to see how the European rounds go, but it is obvious that the results in Monaco and Baku did not meet our expectations.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, believes Red Bull should give everything to win this year, with the Dutchman topping the Formula 1 standings for the first time in his career.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, as he strives for a first title, he wants to focus as much on the here and now as possible without the team being able to have a competitive car next year.
“I think as long as we have a good chance of winning this championship we should leave no stone unturned,” said Verstappen.
“This year is going to be difficult, but we don’t know what it will be like next year. If we have a chance in 2021, we must certainly do everything we can to make it happen.”
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