Toto Wolff says Jeddah was Mercedes' 'worst performance' so far this season

George Russell's qualification on the Corniche circuit, third, just 0 seconds behind Max Verstappen's pole, gave rise to some regrets for the Briton but suggested a race full of opportunities. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

Muscular but measured, the departure between Oscar piastri et Max Verstappen left no chance for George Russell to get into the front. In great difficulty on the hard tires, Mercedes proved unable to compete within the walls, and only a racing incident could have changed the scenario. Third until the fortieth lap, George Russell could do nothing in the face of the respective attacks of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. Upon arrival, the Mercedes No. 63 finished fifth, closely followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli's No. 12 in sixth.

The performance was therefore discreet for the German team, accustomed to podiums this year (3). The team director, Toto wolff, did not hide his disappointment: “ It was our worst performance of the year., he reacted after the race in Saudi Arabia. The pace dropped due to our tires overheating, which was frustrating. We went into the race hoping to be in contention for the podium, but with the limitations of our tires, a fifth and sixth place finish was our maximum. We need to analyze our performance, understand why, and find improvements quickly. The next race in Miami will be on a hot track, so we'll need to do better than today if we want to avoid a repeat. »

Wolff satisfied with Antonelli

The team director definitely didn't appreciate the performances of his Silver Arrows. However, he is satisfied with the progress of his young prodigy: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who had a solid weekend for his first time in Formula 1 on the Saudi route.

« I'm really glad his trajectory is the right one., said Toto Wolff about his protégé's progress. There were no dangerous or overly optimistic moves on his part. He was constantly learning as the races progressed. It's worth noting that he was always very fast at the end of the weekend, and he seems to have mastered the car and tire management. He's 100% on time. »

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been impressive so far with his consistency. He has finished in the points four times in his first five Grands Prix, and has not made a single mistake, unlike the other rookies on the grid this year. While he may not be a shining example compared to his teammate – the Englishman is showing unprecedented form – the 18-year-old Italian is no exception, and has even managed to put his status as a newcomer to the premier class of motorsport into the background.

« The Jeddah race was a good lesson for me, explained the young Mercedes driver. It was a triple test (Japan, Bahrain, Jeddah. Editor's note) intense ; I have a lot to observe and work on, but I'm also looking forward to recovering and coming back stronger in Miami. We will continue to work together to improve and build on our start to the season. »

The next event will be Miami, a circuit that the gifted player has never yet experienced. Kimi doesn't know Miami, said the Austrian director. And from there, I think we'll have a pretty good idea of ​​how his more natural habitat, that is, the circuits he knows, impact his performance. »

On hiatus this week, Formula 1 will return to the United States for the first time this year from May 2 to 4.

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