Sakhir (dpa) – Team boss Toto Wolff sees Formula 1 industry leader Mercedes under pressure shortly before the start of the season.
Two weeks before the opening race on March 28th (5pm / Sky) in the Sakhir desert, the Silver Arrows, which were painted black again this year, did not make the strongest impression, but challengers Red Bull Wolff emphasized that I don’t exactly know the true performance. “What is certain, however, is that we now have to prove our ability to react,” said the 49-year-old.
Immediately after the end of the test, “we put our heads together and started thinking about how we could return to Bahrain stronger in a few days”. Whether the engineers of the world championship team, which has won all titles in the drivers ‘and constructors’ championships since 2014, have found solutions, will be indicated in training on Friday and will be shown in qualification on Saturday and the race on Sunday at the latest. “The greatest strengths of our team are our people and our values and I know that we can report back stronger after a tough test,” emphasized the successful team boss Wolff.
“I know people think we’re just saying it that way, but Mercedes is still the favorite,” said Red Bull driver Max Verstappen: “How can you not be when you have won the World Cup seven times in a row. “
The 23-year-old Belgian has finished third overall behind world champion Lewis Hamilton (36) and his teammate Valtteri Bottas (31) for the past two years. He is certain: “Mercedes wants people to think we are the favorites in order to put pressure on us. But we only look at ourselves. “
In the Mexican Sergio Perez (31), Verstappen has a new team-mate, who celebrated his first Grand Prix victory in a Racing Point car on a different track variant last year in Bahrain. Verstappen then won the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210323-99-943854 / 2
– .