© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says he expects Max Verstappen and Red Bull to pose a serious threat to Mercedes when the 2020 season starts in Austria.
The 2020 F1 season is finally here. However, it will look a lot different than in previous years, mostly due to reshuffled race schedule, many double and triple headers and complete lockdown due to the coronavirus crisis.
Toto Wolff believes it will take some time for the teams to get used to the ‘new normal’.
“It will be getting used to, no media or other appointments,” said the Austrian.
“Only the laps count and the performance of the drivers. We’ll live in a bubble but still I’ll try to get the mechanics and employees on the bike so they can ride a lap on the track for example. Just to leave the bubble for a moment.”
For the first time ever the season will start on Red Bull’s home track in Austria on July 5, but the week after that another race will be held at the very same venue. Considering Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix in 2019 and 2018, this might pose a bit of a challenge for the Silver Arrows (or should be say Black Arrows now?)
“Red Bull with Max Verstappen will be there in Spielberg and I expect it to be very close between Red Bull and us,” agrees Wolff.
Last year high temperatures were a bit of an issue for Mercedes, but Wolff hopes this will not be the case on Sunday.
“Please, no 35 degrees. The heat and the altitude of the circuit were not to our advantage but hopefully we have learned from the previous years and have better control of the situation.”
Source: Kronen Zeitung
