Toto Wolff: "Ferrari switched focus to 2017 too early"

Executive Director of Mercedes Toto Wolff believes that Ferrari switched their plans to 2017 too early, which allowed Red Bull Racing to catch up.

Ferrari came into the season with the hope of challenging Mercedes for the constructers title, but seem of fallen further behind and are now trying to keep Red Bull at bay. The Maranello outfit are so far without a win this season, having won two at this point in the season last year.

"I don’t think you can write Ferrari off, they have clearly had a tough time most recently. I think [Ferrari] switched off very early to focus on 2017.”

“Never underestimate a team with so much resources and so much passion,” warned Wolff.

“We need to be fair sportsmen and Formula 1 lives because of the great battles between drivers and teams. Ferrari is a great brand with capable people and it would have been good fun to fight it out on track.”

“For whatever reason they have not been able in the most recent races to reach the levels they expected to perform and we expect to perform, but I can’t really look into it in detail and I don’t know the reasons.”

“For me, a battle with Ferrari would be great for F1 and, even if this sounds a little bit absurd, I was really looking forward to it and I hope they find their strength again and we fight it out on track,” added Wolff.

 

Replies (0)

Login to reply

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

Test calendar

See full test schedule

World Championship standings 2026

Show full world champion standings

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Spain
-
Bahrain
-
Bahrain
6 - Mar 8
Australia
13 - Mar 15
China
27 - Mar 29
Japan
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
1 - May 3
United States of America
22 - May 24
Canada
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
12 - Jun 14
Spain
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2026

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
10 - Apr 12
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
5 - Jun 7
Monaco Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar