“Bit worried at the moment”: Mercedes boss Toto Wolff after Bahrain testing

Mercedes’ struggles with the W15 in 2024 were no secret, particularly due to the car’s sensitivity to hot conditions. Aware of this challenge, the team aimed to put their newly launched W16 to the test in Bahrain’s typically hot and humid climate ahead of the 2025 season. However, when Mercedes arrived in Bahrain for pre-season testing, they were met with unexpectedly cool conditions—including drizzle. The tension was evident across the team, including on the face of team boss Toto Wolff, as their carefully laid plans were disrupted.This unforeseen weather made it harder for Mercedes to determine whether they had successfully addressed the W15’s weakness in high temperatures. Speaking about the team’s plans and how the weather threw a curveball, Wolff reflected on the situation. When asked what the team had learned under such abnormal conditions, he quipped to the media, including Motorsport Week. “Well, I’m a bit worried at the moment because that should be conditions where we should be two seconds quicker than everybody else!" Wolff told Motorsport Week.“[That] was the only highlight last year in terms of performance in Las Vegas and we are not [that far ahead of the rest]. So, either we’ve remedied the problem and we are more balanced through all the climate conditions or not. We’ve had a laugh about it, whether we lost some of that USP. We shall see. I don’t know.”Mercedes unveiled their 2025 challenger, the W16, following the reveal of their livery at the F1 75 Live season launch event last week. The team embarks on a new chapter after the departure of their star driver and seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari. Rookie Kimi Antonelli steps in to replace Hamilton and will partner with George Russell for the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas, who previously raced for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, returns to the team as a reserve driver for the upcoming season.Also Read: George Russell could face hefty fine after swearing incident amid FIA tensionsMercedes has claimed the Constructors' Championship titles in 1954, 1955, and during their dominant run from 2014 to 2020. Hamilton remains one of the most successful drivers in Formula One history, sharing the record of seven world championships with Michael Schumacher.