P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Wolff wants to ‘punch himself on the nose’ after Mercedes F1 Australian GP DNFs
Lewis Hamilton had to retire from the race due to a power unit failure on lap 15, while Max Verstappen also retired early with a brake fire, allowing Carlos Sainz to win. George Russell collided with Fernando Alonso towards the end of the race, resulting in a penalty for Alonso for changing his driving style. Hamilton and Russell faced handling issues throughout the weekend, with Hamilton being eliminated in Q2 and starting the race in seventh, while Russell started in 11th. The Mercedes team struggled with pace compared to McLaren and Ferrari, causing frustration for Team Principal Toto Wolff, who expressed disappointment with their performance but remained hopeful for improvement in the future. Despite the challenges faced during the race in Melbourne, Wolff emphasized the need to stay positive and work towards turning their performance around.
