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Toto Wolff explains reasons behind Japan F1 U-turn decision
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff initially planned to skip some F1 races to prioritize time management, with Japan being one of them. However, due to a troubled start to the 2024 season, including a double DNF in Australia, Wolff decided last minute to attend the Suzuka weekend. He felt it necessary to be with the team during key experiments planned for the W15 car. Despite Mercedes’ challenges in the new ground effect era, Wolff is confident in the team’s ability to bounce back and overcome obstacles. One of the key issues Mercedes is addressing is understanding why real-life downforce levels do not match up with simulation tools, a problem they have faced since the 2022 regulations. They are exploring new methods to bridge this gap and improve performance on track.