Wolff sceptical about title win in 2023: 'Usually see the glass half empty'

Toto Wolff is sceptical about Mercedes' title chances in 2023. The team boss stresses that Mercedes still has a lot of catching up to do, although the team will have a chance to fix problems during the long winter break.

Mercedes has dominated Formula 1 for years. The team won eight constructors' championships in a row, but this season the team is battling with Ferrari for second place. Mercedes needs to make up a 40-point deficit in the last two races.

The focus is slowly shifting to the 2023 season, but Wolff does not want to think about victories just yet. "I am never sure about victories and world titles. I usually see the glass half empty and not half full. There is no reason to be overwhelmed by the developments in recent weeks. We still have a lot of catching up to do and fortunately, we have the whole winter to do that," the Austrian says in conversation with Bild.

Wolff hopes for victory in Brazil or Abu Dhabi

Mercedes has yet to win a Grand Prix this season. Lewis Hamilton came somewhat close at the United States Grand Prix and the Mexican Grand Prix, but the Briton was ultimately unable to keep up with Max Verstappen. The team partly owes this to the wrong strategy. If Wolff had to choose between getting a win in the last two races or finishing second in the championship, the team boss would still go for a win.

"A win would prove that our car can win races again. Second place in the constructors' championship could just as easily mean that others made mistakes and we took advantage of them." This is partly true, as at the beginning of the season Mercedes was able to take advantage of mistakes by Ferrari on several occasions. Meanwhile, the team itself has managed to narrow the gap towards Red Bull Racing and Ferrari.