Wolff: We started to plan our fight back

That is the claim of Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as the eight-time F1 Constructors' Champions endure another difficult season after a nightmare campaign in 2022 with a car that was in no way up to the standard of F1 machinery that we have come accustomed to seeing from Brackley especially between 2014 and 2021.

Mercedes' 2023 challenger, the W14, was only good for fifth and seventh in the hands of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell respectively, the pair even flattering the car with their skills behind the wheel.

Wolff spoke in Mercedes' preview of the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, as his teams goes through one the most challenging periods under his watch.

Reflecting on Bahrain. Wolff said: "Our performance in Bahrain wasn't where we want it to be. But this is the position we find ourselves in and it is already full steam ahead on the car, understanding it and working to get it in a better place. That's an exciting challenge for all of us.

"Since Bahrain, we have had open and honest discussions from which we started to plan our fight back," he revealed. "In the short term, leaving no stone unturned in the search for performance. In the longer term, focusing our development to determine how we get to the front.

"I've already felt the energy and determination in the factory and know that will continue moving forward," the Austrian insisted.

As for Saudi Arabia, Wolff added: "Anything can happen in motor racing, so we'll be working in Jeddah to maximise every part of our performance, chasing every point, every position, and every millisecond.

"That's one of the huge strengths of our driver line-up with Lewis and George. We are racers and giving everything we've got, every time we go on track.

"This weekend in Saudi Arabia we will learn more about W14, its characteristics and its limitations. It provides a very different test to Bahrain, and it will be interesting to see how the car reacts. We are bringing some small developments to the car: they won't be game changers, but they can start moving us in the right direction.

"We'll be pushing as hard as we can to create opportunities, and hopefully will give us a better account of ourselves than in Bahrain," Wolff concluded.