Toto Wolff has stated that his Mercedes team must ‘get their acts together’ in order to produce a 2024 challenger worthy of competing with Red Bull. The Silver Arrows finished second in the 2023 Constructors’ Championship, but they were a long way from challenging Christian Horner’s team.
Mercedes pipped Ferrari to second place by just three points thanks to George Russell’s podium finish at the season’s final round in Abu Dhabi, but the achievement of finishing best of the rest did little more than provide a distraction from the true gulf in pace at the top end of the standings.
Red Bull finished the campaign with 860 points, meaning they ended the season finale 451 points to the good on Mercedes. Worse still, Red Bull maintained a considerable gap to their rivals during the last race of the year, despite having turned their attention to the development of the RB19’s successor months prior.
Asked by Sky Sports whether or not Mercedes can produce a car capable of facing Red Bull by the end of the 2024 season, Wolff replied: “New season starts with a completely new car and that gives opportunities but also risks.
“I believe we must be realistic. We’re aiming for the stars, but we only came in second place against a team that was outperforming everyone else.”
When asked if one of Mercedes’ rivals would put Red Bull under pressure if they didn’t, the Mercedes team principal responded, “I mean, I’ve always said that this is a meritocracy, and best driver and best car wins, and therefore we have to just get our act together, and I hope it’s us [that can fight Red Bull].”
If the Brackley-based team can work some winter magic and produce a car worthy of challenging Max Verstappen and Red Bull for regular race victories in 2024 then Wolff believes that Hamilton has a realistic shot at claiming his record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship crown.
“If we are able to give him the car, he will be fighting for a world championship,” Wolff said after the season’s final race. “I am certain. It’s obvious that having a Formula 1 car like we have now makes you feel uncomfortable.
“You have good weekends and bad weekends, but at the end of the day, when we see Lewis with a target in front of him and it’s about winning the race, the real Lewis comes alive.” We only need to get him a car.”
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