Ambitious Wolff sends warning to rivals as F1 heads to Austria.
"There is still a long way to go this season. We will look to maximise our points scoring and hopefully be able to challenge for the podium once again," says Wolff, thereby issuing a warning to his competitors.
23 Jun 2025
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

It was a great moment for Mercedes in Montreal, after Russell's deserved victory. Looking back on the last race in Canada, Wolff says: "Victory and a double podium in Montreal were a reward for the hard work of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth."

But he also says: "Though we have made solid progress with our car in recent weeks, we know that we cannot expect this level of performance each and every weekend. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with its absence of high-speed corners and a more closed tarmac that puts less stress on the tyres, suited the W16."

"The team executed well and took advantage of that, but we know that our rivals will likely be much more competitive in Austria this weekend." The Mercedes team boss definitely sees opportunities for his squad: "Building on the momentum from Canada is therefore our focus. The track in Spielberg will be a good test of our recent updates and provide another reference point for our progress."

‘Made solid progress with our car in recent weeks’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...ments-by-wolff


Toto Wolff delivers Mercedes warning as new 'focus' revealed.
Toto Wolff is not getting ahead of himself - or letting his team - after a first victory of the current F1 season.
24 June 2025
Samuel Coop
RacingNews365

Toto Wolff has cautioned that Mercedes "cannot expect" to permanently enjoy the "level of performance" it showed at the Canadian Grand Prix. George Russell claimed an assured victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which included pole position and fastest lap, whilst team-mate Kimi Antonelli secured his maiden podium finish in F1.

However, their team principal has sought to temper expectations, highlighting how rival F1 teams will be significantly more competitive at the Red Bull Ring than they were during the weekend in Montreal, which complemented the characteristics of the W16.

The 53-year-old laid out his target for the Austrian Grand Prix, as well as underlining what the weekend in the Styrian hills can help the team establish.

‘Not getting ahead of himself’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff...focus-revealed


Toto Wolff discloses 'never confident' stance over 'different ball game' facing Mercedes
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is taking nothing for granted after the Brackley squad's impressive 1-3 result in Montreal.
21 June 2025
Samuel Coop & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

When asked how confident he is over his team replicating the performance it showed in Montreal over the coming rounds, Wolff was direct in his response. "Never confident, because the swings in performance are still there," the Austrian told media including RacingNews365.

"You see it last year that on some tracks, it wasn't even close to who was second but we dominated throughout the weekend, and that's a little bit the pattern we have seen [in Canada]." Wolff went on to highlight the contrasting demands of the circuit in Spielberg, commenting how it will be a "different ball game" there.

"And Austria is going to be a different ball game, different track layout, different challenges," the 53-year-old explained. "So all of our eyes and brains are concentrated on Austria now. This is done, tick the box.”

‘Taking nothing for granted’;

https://racingnews365.com/toto-wolff...acing-mercedes


Toto Wolff Declares Mercedes F1 Engines ‘Good as Gold’ Despite Reliability Issues
June 22, 2025
Nelson Espinal Newsweek
The Charlotte Observer

The Mercedes engine is under the spotlight after a run of problems throughout the past couple of race weekends. In Canada, Williams driver Alex Albon retired from the race after seven laps. The power unit caused the retirement.

Williams is not the only Mercedes customer to have gone through problems with the engine; Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso couldn't finish the Monaco GP after a loss of power. Even the Mercedes car suffered problems this season. Kimi Antonelli retired from the Emilia-Romagna and Spanish races due to engine-related issues.

"I mean, our engines have been as good as gold since the introduction of the hybrid era, and so strong. And now it's the final year, all sights are on next year, and this group are fully on top of the reliability issues that we have," Wolff explained. "And statistically, if you look at the many years, the failures we had were very minimal. So we need to learn now what happened. I don't know what happened to Alex (Albon), actually. And I'm sure we'll understand it."

‘Good as Gold’;

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sp...mainstage_card


Toto Wolff now giving signals around the F1 paddock that a big driver decision is imminent at Mercedes
17 June 2025
Ben Evans
F1 Oversteer

Journalists Tom Clarkson and Lawrence Barretto have noticed a change in Wolff’s body language that suggests he’s very close to making a decision on Russell’s future. Toto Wolff body language change suggests Mercedes extension for George Russell is ‘close’.

Clarkson was asked on The F1 Nation Podcast why Russell doesn’t have a contract for 2026 yet and said: “He wants to stay at Mercedes. I think Toto Wolff is still playing the Max Verstappen card but I think he’s realising that that’s slipping away and I think we’ll see a George Russell contract soon probably.

“Particularly if he keeps banging in performances like this.” Barretto replied: “Yeah I’m going to say a bit of body language changed a little bit with Toto a couple of weeks ago. There’s a little bit more of a glint in his eye, a bit of a smirk when you talk to him about George and that contract and it does feel like it’s close. I think to your point Tom, I do think he wanted to leave the door open as long as he possibly could in case he could get Max.”

‘Toto Wolff now giving signals’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/tot...ow-very-close/


Montoya puzzled as Mercedes keeps contract-less Russell in limbo while courting Verstappen
21 Jun 2025
Tobia Elia
GPblog.com

“George has actually been in a bad mood ever since he entered Formula 1,” Montoya told AS Colombia when commenting on Russell's edgy contract situation. He joined a team that was used to winning, but just at a time when it wasn't happening anymore. That was tough for him, but he has developed well and has done a good job so far.”

“The problem now is that he still doesn't have a contract. After that victory, you would think it was already sorted. He and Max are the two most sought-after drivers without long-term certainty.” speculation about an early exit — something Mercedes, according to Montoya, is eagerly capitalizing on: “Max technically has a contract, but George is the most wanted driver in the field who currently doesn’t have a contract.”

This makes Russell, according to Montoya, vulnerable to a potential attempt by Red Bull to back their shoulders: "So if you look at it that way, Red Bull could come in with a lot of money to cover themselves in case Max leaves''. This only applies if Verstappen were to leave, because a Verstappen–Russell duo at Red Bull, according to Montoya, is not on the cards: "Would he go to Red Bull to work with Max? I would say: absolutely not."

‘Contract-less Russell in limbo’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/monto...ing-verstappen