© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says it’s “very difficult to really assess what the lap time deficit is”, once the team solves the W13’s problems.
Mercedes is facing multiple issues with their 2022 car, the biggest of which is the porpoising. The phenomenon prevents the team from running their cars closer to the ground, which is costing them precious lap time.
Toto Wolff says it’s hard to say how much faster the car would be going if they were able to run it as it was intended during the design process.
“I think we are not running the car where we wanted to run it,” the Austrian said.
“Therefore it is very difficult to really assess what the lap time deficit is if we were able to run the car lower.
“I would very much hope that the gap is much closer to what we have seen but there are deficits everywhere.”
However, Wolff warns it’s not just the porpoising that’s the problem.
“I think it’s important now not to just point the finger at individual areas of the car. We operate together as a team, and I think we have deficits overall that are bigger than an engine deficit.
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“Now we just all have to grab each other by the scruff of the neck and, with all our strength, pull ourselves out of this mess.
“Now we just all have to grab each other by the scruff of the neck and, with all our strength, pull ourselves out of this mess.”
As for the next race in Australia, Wolff is happy to see Formula 1 return to the country, after being absent for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s really important to Formula 1 because F1 has a great fanbase there and it has been always part of the circus.
“So coming back there is something that everybody is always looking forward to.
“Less so me at the moment but if I take my Mercedes hat off, it is a great place and we love to be in Australia,” Mercedes’ team boss concluded.
