Exclusive – Wolff on New-Look Mercedes’ 2017 Challenge

Mercedes

Such has been Mercedes’ mastery of the past few seasons, which is anything but easy to overlook exactly what amount has changed for the group, since the end of last year – a vigorously overhauled set of controls, as well as another driver pairing, new staff and structure in the Silver Arrows’ specialized line-up. All in all, with one pre-season test complete, how is everything meeting up?

Elite interview with Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport…

Q: Toto, rather than having the prevailing champion in your car, you now have a driver who has never won a Grand Prix. Would you say this is somewhat of a comedown?

Toto Wolff: Not by any stretch of the imagination. We confide in Valtteri. He has done 77 races with nine podiums for Williams and has phenomenal records in junior categories. I think he is grown up enough to venture into Nico’s (Rosberg) shoes.

Q: Did you feel somewhat silly when your champion abruptly vanished? Particularly when all other appropriate prospects had effectively signed contracts…

TW: Are you calling us silly? (Chuckles) in all actuality, you can’t look into peoples’ heads. Nico chose to retire, which is a choice I regarded. Some of the time in life, your characteristics of adaptability are called upon to adapt to the unexpected. It’s somewhat similar to the Darwin guideline: just the most adaptable species will survive! (Chuckles)

Q: Was Valtteri the next best thing to Nico – would you say you are trusting he is ‘Rosberg 2.0’? The two came to Mercedes from William in which they never won a race…

TW: Ha, Valtteri is a Valtteri 1.0! Be that as it may, yes, the record seems to be comparative. Both are champs in junior series – and them two experienced a strong education at William,s with a few highlights, but weren’t in a place of winning races as a result of their cars.

Q: To unglue Bottas from Williams resembled a strong huge errand…

TW: The discussions were hard, yes. Claire (Williams) is especially the little girl of her dad, with an incredible commercial skill. That I regard a lot. It was vital to oblige the requirements of all parties involved: Williams, Sauber and our interests – accomplish a win-win-win circumstance.

Q: What about your previous counterpart Paddy Lowe, who as of late left Mercedes and is relied upon to join Williams?

TW: A racing team, similar to some other organization, is not a static structure that you can solidify, and expect that achievement will proceed. It is vital to continually build up the structure, and at times disturbance can be a positive variable – if maneuvered carefully.

Q: You have signed James Allison taking after Paddy’s departure. He was not as fruitful at Ferrari had hoped, so what makes you think Mercedes would you be able to unleash the genius in him? Is the atmosphere in Brackley more rousing than that in Maranello?

TW: James is an extremely respected engineer, who was a piece of exceptionally fruitful structures at Ferrari and Renault. I like his personality and his management approach. But, he was not accessible for quite a while. When he got to be distinctly available – in light of the fact that he couldn’t live up to his administration’s desires, and needed to adapt to a dramatic personal circumstance – it was an unquestionable requirement for me to get him on board. Be that as it may, James is not replacing Paddy, on the grounds that the structure has changed.

Q: We all have read Anthony Hamilton’s comments about his child Lewis, being a ‘vocation executioner’ for a partner. What do you say to that?

TW: In my opinion, Lewis is the best driver in modern Formula One. Additionally on the grounds that he is driving the best car. That blend is difficult to find. Of course, having Lewis as a partner is likely the most troublesome task you can have as a F1 driver. Does it kill careers? I don’t have the foggiest idea.

Q: Speaking of Lewis and the best car, how satisfied would you say you are so far – and is the Mercedes still the best car?

TW: Ha, as much as you can be satisfied following four days of testing! There is an early sign that we are looking alright, but it is no more and no less.

Q: Adrian Newey said that the Mercedes looks a great deal more entangled than the Red Bull – and that possibly Mercedes is more developed, thus can deal with such a car…

TW: … we are on different philosophies. Essentially it is about extracting the greatest performance of the auto, and whether this is through advanced work or a more oversimplified approach, toward the day’s end, insignificant. What tallies is the performance of the car? I have no doubt that whatever car Adrian and his team bring to the track, will be an intense competitor to beat. My guess is that we haven’t seen the Red Bull Racing car of 2017 yet.

Q: F1 racing will be run differently now under its new owners. What do you anticipate? Does it help that Ross Brawn, now Formula 1’s Managing Director, Motor Sports, was one of your team in the past?

TW: I expect changes after Bernie (Ecclestone) has cleared out. Right now we have positive exchanges with the new owners. Ross has been in F1 everlastingly and one thing is without a doubt: you can’t “b*llsh*t” Ross! (chuckles) Ross’ objectives at this moment, are very surprising to the ones he had when he was part of our team. He needs to ensure that the regulations permit a great obstacle – and that implies he is taking a gander at things from the opposite side of the fence now.

Q: Lewis is the bookmakers’ most loved to win the title this year. Who do you see who could stand in his way?

TW: I think we ought to begin the season before making any expectations about who wins and who loses.

Q: Valtteri is on a one-year contract. What does he have to accomplish for you to keep him? Various other driver contracts run out toward the end of the year – eminently Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso’s…

TW: He needs to integrate well into the team – which I have undoubtedly he will – and be quick. We need to see that the two [Bottas and Hamilton] push each other, as we have seen with our drivers previously.