F1: Toto Wolff Calls Saudi GP Mercedes' Worst Performance of the Year So Far After Tyre Woes
Mercedes F1 salvaged P5 and P6 at the Saudi GP, as strong qualifying speed was undone by tyre troubles and race-day performance issues.
By Divyam Dubey
Mercedes faced a tough weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, falling short of expectations despite a strong qualifying performance. Team boss Toto Wolff called it their most disappointing race of the 2025 Formula 1 season so far, as the team struggled to turn early promise into results. George Russell started from P3, giving fans hope for a podium. But both Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli battled tyre overheating, which quickly affected their race pace. As a result, the Mercedes pair slipped back through the field, eventually crossing the line in fifth and sixth place.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff said: 'That was our worst performance of the year so far. The pace dropped away as our tyres overheated and that was frustrating. We came into the race hoping we could compete for the podium but, with the limitations we had with the tyres, P5 and P6 was the maximum for us. We need to analyse our performance, work out why that was the case, and quickly find improvements. The next race in Miami is another race on a hot track surface so we will need to be better than we were today if we want to avoid a repeat performance.'
'Both drivers fought hard with the limitations they were facing. Even with greater management at different stages of the race, George was always going to be unable to stop Leclerc and Norris coming past. Kimi continued his development to take P6 and hold off Lewis (Hamilton). That has helped us limit the damage to our direct competitors in the Constructors’ Championship, but we don’t leave Saudi Arabia satisfied with that,' he added.
George Russell came close to pole position in qualifying but couldn’t maintain his pace in the race, finishing 30 seconds behind the winner. Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli also lost ground, crossing the line in sixth. However, there was a silver lining: Antonelli’s solid performance, as he kept up with Russell and managed to hold off Lewis Hamilton to secure P6.
Currently sitting second in the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes faces a growing challenge. While the car shows impressive speed in qualifying, it struggles to sustain that pace during the race. This has been a key factor in their inability to secure consistent podium finishes.
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As the team looks ahead to the Miami Grand Prix, addressing tyre performance issues has become a top priority. The disappointing result in Saudi Arabia has pushed Mercedes to take quick action, as they look to narrow the gap to Red Bull and McLaren in the 2025 F1 season. If the team cannot improve their race-day performance, podiums will remain elusive.
