Components One champions Mercedes are going via an “train in humility” after years of success however they are going to be stronger for it, workforce boss Toto Wolff mentioned after extra ache in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton completed tenth, the final of the points-paying positions, after failing to make it via the primary section of qualifying at Jeddah’s Corniche avenue circuit.
Hamilton mentioned that was ‘gutting’, whereas new workforce mate George Russell, fifth, mentioned it was time for greater than ‘child steps’.
Resurgent Ferrari lead the constructors’ standings after two races, with Charles Leclerc prime of the drivers’ championship after main a one-two win in Bahrain and taking second place in Saudi Arabia.
Pink Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen received on Sunday to open his account for a 12 months shaping up as a battle between the groups from Milton Keynes and Maranello.
“We had been proper in the midst of these enjoyable video games within the entrance for the final eight years,” Wolff informed reporters in a video name after the race, recognising the brand new dynamic was good for the game.
“This can be very painful to be not a part of these enjoyable video games and by fairly a bit of lap time deficit.
“We’re not going to relaxation till we’re again within the combine. It is no enjoyable in any respect. An train in humility and it will make us stronger ultimately.”
Mercedes have been constructors’ champions for the previous eight years, a file run, however main aerodynamic rule modifications this 12 months have left them wrestling with a automobile that bounces, or ‘porpoises’, on the straights as downforce comes and goes.
They’re 40 factors behind Ferrari, and only one away from Pink Bull who’re getting back from two retirements within the opening race.
“We’re not operating the automobile the place we wished to run it and due to this fact it is rather tough to essentially assess what the lap time deficit is that if we had been capable of run the automobile decrease,” mentioned Wolff, including that “there are deficits all over the place.”