Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed the disappointing performance of his squad at the recent Italian Grand Prix at Monza, pinpointing several reasons for their subpar outcome. Wolff highlighted that the combination of driver mistakes, tire issues, and other contributing elements led to Mercedes’ failure to secure a strong finish.
In qualifying, George Russell secured fifth place, outperforming his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who started lower on the grid. However, during the race, the team could not improve their positions: Russell finished fifth while Antonelli ended up in ninth place. This fell short of expectations compared to their competitors in the Constructors’ Championship battle.
Ferrari managed to place both of their drivers within the points, with Charles Leclerc taking fourth and Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth. Meanwhile, Red Bull delivered a dominant performance, with Max Verstappen winning the race ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In contrast, Mercedes’ result was disappointing, prompting Wolff to assess what went wrong.
“Yeah, it was a tough day today,” Wolff told the media after the race. “You can clearly see there’s only one guy who makes everybody look bad and stupid. Our car just didn’t have the pace. Generally, I think over the weekend, all of us didn’t perform on the level you need in order to make it to the podium.”
“I mean, all around, there’s never one reason. You know, the combination between tyres, the chassis, the drivers—all need to go hand in hand. And if there’s just one weak link, you are losing. If two or three, then obviously you have no chance,” he further added.
Technical Insight Explains Kimi Antonelli’s Difficult Start at Monza
Simone Resta, Mercedes’ deputy technical director, shed light on the reasons behind Kimi Antonelli’s poor start during the Italian Grand Prix. Discussing Antonelli’s launch off the line, Resta noted that despite consistent practice, the young driver struggled to achieve the optimal clutch engagement. This misstep resulted in considerable wheel spin early in the race, which contributed to losing positions quickly.
“Essentially, Kimi, after a quite consistent sequence of start practice, he wasn’t able to go right on the target in terms of clutch position, and that essentially created a lot of spin in the first phase of the start, in the position, in P10.”
Current Standings Highlight the Pressure on Mercedes and Its Drivers
After 16 races and three Sprint events, George Russell ranks fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 194 points. His teammate, Kimi Antonelli, holds seventh place with 66 points. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads the championship standings with 324 points, ahead of teammate Lando Norris. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes sits third with 260 points, trailing second-placed Ferrari by 20 points but maintaining a 21-point advantage over Red Bull.
Given the tight competition and the evident performance gaps displayed at Monza, the pressure remains high on Mercedes to address all areas of weakness promptly. Improving driver execution, optimizing tire usage, and enhancing the car’s balance will be critical for Mercedes if they aim to reclaim their status in the championship fight as the season moves forward.
