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Mercedes cleaned up in Australia with a commanding one-two at the 2019 Formula 1 World Championship season, two weeks later they again did the business with consummate ease despite what you read elsewhere.
Nevertheless, team chief Toto Wolff is being typically wary of what Ferrari may bring to the party should they find the reliability for those ponies that have their power unit package reportedly delivering 1000-horsepower plus.
In his team’s preview ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Wolff said, “Two races into the 2019 season, it may seem like we’re in a strong position. We have 87 points, just one below the maximum score. But the constructors’ standings do not tell the full story.”
“The truth is that we weren’t as quick as our direct competitors throughout qualifying and the race in Bahrain. The Ferrari was considerably faster on the straights and this added up to several tenths around one lap.”
“Nevertheless, the saying goes that: in order to finish first, first you have to finish and the combination of solid performances from the team, reliability of our systems and a strong drive from our drivers secured us the one-two.”
“The challenge we are facing doesn’t daunt us – it’s uplifting. We will keep pushing to extract the maximum performance from our package to deliver the best race we can.”
“We will try and exert pressure, maximise our opportunities and keep working hard to develop our overall package. We’ve seen exciting races so far this season and we’re looking forward to the next fight in Shanghai.”
“The 2019 Chinese Grand Prix will also mark the 1000th Formula One World Championship race. 1000 races over almost 70 years are a testament to the fantastic tradition and heritage of this sport.”
“We’re proud to represent one of the world’s biggest brands in the series and we will do our very best to put on a good show on this historic occasion,” concluded Wolff’s review.
