Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, commented on Ferrari’s superiority at starts after the Formula 1 Australian GP, and warned of possible disadvantages this could bring over the course of a race.
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“Maybe it’s easier to have a better start and then you end up compromising other parts of the circuit or the race,” said Wolff when analyzing the performance of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne.
In the last GP, Leclerc had an impressive start, passing George Russell, and engaged in an intense battle with the Briton for several laps. Despite this, Mercedes managed to secure a one-two finish, with Russell winning the race and Kimi Antonelli securing P2. Wolff highlighted that Ferrari, which finished in P3 (Leclerc) and P4 (Lewis Hamilton), may have specific technical advantages: “I think that depends on a specific hardware configuration in the engine, turbo size, which allows the turbo to spin efficiently,” he said.
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The Austrian executive also commented on electrical energy management at the pre-start: “I was happy that we managed to start even with the battery not being full in either car. When you look at the pre-start, with the engine revving, you think: ‘What is happening?’ I hope everyone can get off the starting position without accidents. For a first time, it was quite good,” concluded the Mercedes boss, who also praised the performance of Franco Colapinto (Alpine), who avoided a possible accident with Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), highlighting the importance of quick reflexes and caution in such contested starts.
This warning from Wolff makes it clear that, although Mercedes has started the season dominantly, Ferrari’s performance in fast starts could influence the strategic balance of the upcoming races.
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