In Melbourne the clock will speak
F1 will kick off in Melbourne, Australia, at the weekend and Mercedes is tipped as the big favourite. The team principal Toto Wolff he is not of the same opinion and is rather shaken by what happened in the Middle East, an alarming situation which directly involved Mercedes engaged in a Pirelli test in Bahrain. Below are the words of the Austrian manager in view of the Melbourne event.
“Given the current situation in the Middle East, it seems out of place to talk about sports. We follow developments in the region with concern and hope that the protection of civilian lives remains an absolute priority. The tire test scheduled for Bahrain involved several members of our team, who fortunately managed to leave the country safely. With such a serious situation underway, it would be pointless to talk about the possible further impact on F1 in the coming weeks; We know that the FIA and F1 will continue to monitor events and make the necessary and correct decisions when necessary.
As for this weekend, the tests are now behind us. They offered some insights, but, as always, many more questions than answers. We have identified encouraging signs, but also several aspects that are not yet as good as they should be. It’s the nature of this sport: every weakness is an opportunity just waiting to be exploited. The W17 has potential, but the timer never lies. Melbourne will give us the first real indication of where we stand.
It will take a few races before the balance of power on the track clearly emerges. The new rules add an additional layer of complexity and will reshape the dynamics on the track as teams adapt. We are at the beginning of a new era for this sport full of opportunities. There’s been a lot of talk so far, but now we can stop talking and get to the races. Let’s see how the initial picture will emerge.”
