In Melbourne, the stopwatch will do the talking
This weekend F1 will kick off in Melbourne, Australia, and Mercedes is being pointed out as the big favorite. Team principal Toto Wolff is not of the same opinion and is rather shaken by what happened in the Middle East, an alarming situation that directly involved Mercedes while engaged in a Pirelli test in Bahrain. Below are the words of the Austrian manager ahead of the Melbourne event.
“Given the current situation in the Middle East, it seems out of place to talk about sport. We follow the developments in the region with concern and hope that the protection of civilian lives remains a top priority. The tire test scheduled in Bahrain involved several members of our team, who fortunately managed to leave the country safely. With such a serious situation underway, it would be useless to talk about the possible further impact on F1 in the coming weeks; we know that the FIA and F1 will continue to monitor events and make the necessary and correct decisions when needed.
As for this weekend, the tests are now behind us. They offered some insights, but, as always, many more questions than answers. We have identified encouraging signs, but also several aspects that are not yet as they should be. It is in the nature of this sport: every weakness is an opportunity just waiting to be exploited. The W17 has potential, but the stopwatch never lies. Melbourne will give us the first real indication of our position.
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It will take a few races before the balance of power on the track clearly emerges. The new rules add an extra layer of complexity and will reshape the dynamics on the track as teams adapt. We are at the beginning of a new era for this sport, full of opportunities. So far there has been a lot of talk, but now we can stop talking and move on to racing. Let’s see how the initial picture takes shape.”
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