Toto Wolff speaks of a "difficult birth" for Mercedes in Melbourne

At the end of the first free practice session of the 2026 season Formula 1 in Melbourne (Australia), where George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished in seventh and eighth positions respectively, Toto wolff acknowledged that Mercedes Benz had encountered some difficulties. The head of the German team spoke of a "difficult birth" for the news carThese comments should be taken with a grain of salt, however, because during the second practice session, the drivers from the Mercedes-Benz company finished in second and third positions.

“We are certainly not facing the same problems as Adrian [Newey, with Aston Martin], but the birth [of the car] has been difficult for us today as well, which was not unexpected, I suppose, with the introduction of new regulations.” According to him, the problems encountered concern several elements of the car: "We weren't in an ideal situation with regard to the chassis and powertrain, but all of that is surmountable." Despite these initial necessary adjustments, the Austrian believes that the team has a solid foundation to work from in order to progress.

When asked about the confidence displayed by George Russell the day before, Toto Wolff reiterated that he always remains cautious in his assessments, regardless of Mercedes' position in the standings. "In about fifteen years, I've never been confident. Even though we started the season magnificently, I was never confident enough to say that we were going to be faster." The Austrian manager points out that test sessions are not enough to establish a concrete hierarchy: "We had a difficult first free practice session, but nothing unusual. So we simply need to proceed step by step, calmly." Mercedes, however, is not losing sight of its main objective: "I hope we'll be fast enough to fight for a podium finish or a win on Sunday, but it's not a done deal."

Reliability, a key issue at the start of the season

Journalists also raised the issue of reliability after Kimi Antonelli's engine problem during pre-season testing in Bahrain. For the head of the German brand, these incidents are inevitable. "Reliability is always a problem, especially with the new cars and engine groups." He continues “It’s often said, ‘To finish first in a race, you first have to finish the race.’ I think that will be our motto for these first two Grands Prix: to identify our limits and weaknesses in terms of reliability, whether it’s in the components themselves or any other element of the car.”

Between the two free practice sessions, nothing seemed to bother the Austrian manager: "So no, I'm not particularly worried about a reliability issue related to the engine, but rather to the overall concept of the car," concludes Toto Wolff.

While some spectators are questioning the impact of the new regulations on the on-track spectacle, the Austrian manager is confident about the sporting interest of the weekend: "I think we're expecting over 500,000 spectators this weekend. The enthusiasm is palpable and everyone is thrilled to see the cars and drivers on the track." He understands the public's doubts, but remains calm: “Of course, as with any new regulations, it will be different in some respects. As you say, some cars will have difficulties, others won’t. We might even have a few surprises. So, I’m not worried at all. That’s not the first word that comes to mind when I think about the show and entertainment we’re going to see on Saturday and Sunday.”

Despite the high expectations surrounding Mercedes before this first race weekend, Toto Wolff refuses to consider his team the favorite. According to him, the difficulties he cited during the first practice session show that the pecking order remains open. He also emphasizes another point: "I've always said that I found Red Bull et Classic Ferrari for sale "They're very fast, and people keep trying to highlight us, which is flattering, but I'm not sure that's 100% the reality, and certainly not what we saw in FP1."

A decision is forthcoming regarding racing in the Middle East.

The Mercedes boss was also questioned about the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for the coming months, given the tensions in the Middle East. On this point, Toto Wolff believes the situation extends far beyond the realm of sport: “First and foremost, Formula 1 takes a backseat. It’s such a big deal in the region that it’s even quite difficult, I suppose, to talk to local leaders and ask them, ‘What about the Grand Prix?’”

According to him, as with all major sporting decisions, this one belongs to the governing bodies of Formula 1 and the FIA. Nevertheless, he still has an opinion on the situation: “I really hope we can race. Is it realistic to do so there right now? I’m not sure. But again, I’ll let Stefano [Domenicali] manage the situation. I hope the situation improves overall so we can get back as soon as possible.”

A few hours later, the situation improved slightly for Mercedes during the second free practice session. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured a one-two finish for the German team. This was an encouraging result for the team led by Toto Wolff, who seemed to have quickly addressed some of the difficulties encountered during the first session. This should allow them to approach the rest of the opening weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Melbourne with a bit more confidence.

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