Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has tempered expectations ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, admitting his squad’s car still struggles with the kind of performance swings that have plagued their 2025 campaign.
Speaking before the Budapest race, Wolff highlighted ongoing issues with the W16’s handling on twisty tracks like the Hungaroring. “We’ve made strides, but we won’t eliminate these fluctuations entirely this year,” he said, echoing comments from earlier in the season when he doubted rivals would fare much better.
This comes as George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli aim to build on recent points finishes, including fifth and sixth in Saudi Arabia. Yet Wolff’s words suggest Red Bull and McLaren could capitalize, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris tipped to dominate in the heat.
Despite the caution, Wolff remains focused on ending the pre-summer break run positively. “We’re pushing hard to extract more from the package,” he added, as Mercedes sits fourth in the constructors’ standings behind Ferrari.
The team has faced frustration this year, with Wolff labeling Jeddah their lowest point. Now, with upgrades in the pipeline, Hungary offers a chance to steady the ship before the shutdown.
Sources (click to expand):
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/27/toto-wolff-mercedes-max-verstappen-formula-one-austrian-grand-prix,
https://www.planetf1.com/news/red-bull-mclaren-boost-toto-wolff-mercedes-w15,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toto_Wolff,
https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/looking-to-head-into-break-on-a-positive-toto-previews-hungary,
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/1025848/toto-wolff-mercedes-f1-scathing-verdict-george-russell-exit-hungarian-gp-qualifying/,
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13353037/mercedes-boss-toto-wolff-admits-frustration-at-worst-performance-of-2025-f1-season-at-saudi-arabian-gp,
https://f1oversteer.com/news/george-russell-will-be-worried-by-toto-wolffs-latest-mercedes-upgrade-admission-after-pointless-monaco-grand-prix-weekend,
https://motorsportweek.com/2025/02/04/toto-wolff-mercedes-wont-get-rid-of-performance-fluctuations-in-f1-2025,
https://gpfans.com/us/f1-news/1045734/mercedes-f1-toto-wolff-japanese-grand-prix-absence,
https://motorsportweek.com/2025/03/12/mercedes-casts-admission-over-prospects-for-initial-2025-f1-races
