Wolff Distances Mercedes From Favourites Tag in Las Vegas

Toto Wolff has played down expectations ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, insisting that Mercedes should not be considered a favourite despite a strong showing at last year’s inaugural race. The team principal says the competitive landscape has changed dramatically, and Mercedes enters the weekend with caution rather than confidence.

In 2023, Mercedes surprised many by performing well on the newly introduced Strip Circuit. Lewis Hamilton showed promising long-run pace, while George Russell was among the strongest qualifiers. With the layout returning unchanged this year, some fans hoped that Mercedes might once again shine.

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Wolff, however, says that optimism should be tempered. Mercedes has endured a challenging season marked by inconsistency and difficulty finding the right setup window from track to track.

“Last Year’s Performance Means Nothing”

Speaking to Sky Sports, Wolff was clear in his assessment. “Last year’s performance does not give us any guarantees. The field has moved forward. McLaren and Ferrari have made huge improvements, and Red Bull remains strong. We cannot rely on the past.”

He added that the conditions in Las Vegas make predictions risky. “The track surface, the temperatures and the tyre behaviour are unpredictable. We need to focus on getting our car into the right window. If we do that, we can score good points, but we are not favourites.”

Mercedes Searching for Consistency

Mercedes arrives in Nevada with a car that has shown flashes of competitive pace but has struggled for stability. Wolff says the team’s goal is simple: avoid the problems that have plagued previous weekends.

“We need clean sessions. No mistakes, no surprises. When we execute properly, the results follow. That is the target this weekend.”

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have both highlighted the difficulty of warming the tyres on the low-grip circuit. With cold night temperatures expected once again, Mercedes is preparing for a demanding weekend.

Focus Shifting Toward 2025

While the team remains committed to finishing the current season strongly, Wolff acknowledges that development focus has already shifted to next year’s car. “We are

learning a lot in these final races. Everything we understand now helps us for 2025. That is the bigger picture.”

Still, Wolff hopes that Mercedes can at least repeat some of last year’s competitiveness. “If we get everything right, we can be in the fight. But we are not going into Las Vegas thinking we are the team to beat.”