Wolff: Red Bull hid its potential with the RB13

Caution is advised during winter testing in Barcelona (Spain) when making predictions for the upcoming season. If Mercedes should remain the team to beat this year, the Team Ferrari also seems to be getting off to a good start with the SF70H.

However, Red Bull was a little behind with the RB13, being only the 5th most diligent team on the track with 294 laps covered compared to 558 for the Mercedes W08. Daniel Ricciardo achieved the best time for the Taureau Rouge stable by signing the 5th time of the week, more than a second behind the reference set by Valtteri Bottas on the Silver Arrow.

Despite this discretion, Toto wolff believes that Red Bull has not exploited the full potential of the RB13. Red Bull technical director Adrian Newey believes the Mercedes W08 is more accomplished because of its level of sophistication.

“We have very different philosophies, commented the executive president of Mercedes Motorsport, quoted on the official F1 website. It doesn't take into account the level of complexity or simplicity of the approach because the main thing is to get maximum performance from the car. I have no doubt that Adrian and his team will be difficult to beat on the track. In my opinion, we haven't seen the Red Bull of 2017 yet."

Toto Wolff will also have to pay attention to the adversity that will reign between the two garages between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, Nico Rosberg's replacement, while the father of the three-time world champion has already caused tensions by indicating that his son was a "career killer for his teammates".

“Lewis is, in my opinion, the best current driver in F1, confided Toto Wolff. This is also the case because he drives the best car. It's probably one of the most difficult situations to find yourself teammates with Lewis, but I don't know if you can say that he ruins careers. »