Toto Wolff: Mercedes won’t change focus despite McLaren’s dominance

Toto Wolff, the boss of the Mercedes team, denied claims that McLaren's current advantage could lead the team to focus too much on the new technical regulations that will come into force in 2026. Although McLaren is currently showing a great good pace, Wolff stressed that Mercedes is not ready to give up the fight under any circumstances.

McLaren's advantage does not change the priority of Mercedes

McLaren definitely lived up to pre-season expectations, and their strong performance at the Australian Grand Prix, where the reigning champions won with Lando Norris, showed that they will be one of the challengers for the title this season. With their impressive form, McLaren let it be known that they are ready to fight at the top. George Russell, after qualifying, said that McLaren's current lead could allow the team to focus earlier on future rule changes for 2026, while still being able to win both titles in 2025.

However, Wolff made it clear that Mercedes has no plans to drastically change its approach. When asked if McLaren's advantage can encourage Mercedes to focus more on the new season, Wolff replied that they must never give up.

"It's a big difference, an impressive advantage," Wolff told Motorsport Week. "But you must never give up. We just finished the first race weekend. We finished third and fifth, and that was a good result for us," he added.

Toto Wolff shares his views

Wolff further explained that the team has to analyze how to manage the tires better, as there is currently a problem with keeping the tires in the optimal window, which is reflected in the car's performance. Although McLaren may have the advantage in certain conditions, he stressed that Mercedes must remain calm and not get off course, turning their attention to further challenges and long-term goals, including 2026.

"We are missing 20 points of aerodynamic thrust, but this is not a real problem. It is about the mechanical side - how to keep our tires in the optimal area. We still have a lot of work, but we also have a plan," said Wolff, showing that Mercedes is not ready to compromise when it comes to long-term development.