© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
One of Toto Wolff’s two deputies in Japan, Bradley Lord, says it’s clear “where we have got to work and the ground we have to make up over the winter”.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has been forced to miss the Japanese Grand Prix, due to undergoing a knee operation.
The Austrian’s duties in Japan are shared by Mercedes’ Motorsport Communications Director Bradley Lord and Driver Development Director Jerome D’Ambrosio.
After a disappointing Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying, Lord gave his thoughts on Mercedes’ current situation.
“It’s exactly where it was in FP3,” he said.
“The first sector here through the Esses is exactly the sort of stuff where we are not particularly strong.
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“We have seen McLaren make a good step there as well, so that’s been our deficit through all the weekend.
“We made some progress all through the weekend but even on that final lap George reported the car was sliding around there and the tyres weren’t really biting.
“Lewis managed to find a small improvement but unfortunately we have shaken out where the pace of the car is.
“It’s a clear picture of where we have got to work and the ground we have to make up over the winter.
“But also we’ve still got some upgrades to come and we hope those will help us make another small step forward as well,” Lord concluded.
