P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff has played down suggestions Mercedes is leading the field after practice for the F1 Australian Grand Prix.
Toto Wolff downplays the idea that Mercedes is leading the field after the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix practice sessions. Despite pressure from rivals and high expectations, Mercedes did not dominate the timesheets with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The W17 showed strong long-run pace, especially in Russell’s hands, but there are still issues to address, according to Wolff. He acknowledges teething problems in the car but emphasizes that they are not as severe as those faced by Aston Martin Honda. Wolff remains cautious and not overly confident about Mercedes’ performance in the new season, highlighting the importance of reliability and continuous improvement.
