Wolff: "We need to do big steps forward in races to come"

Mercedes will start from third tomorrow with George Russell for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, thanks to Charles Leclerc's ten-place grid penalty, but team boss Toto Wolff stated to Sky Sports and ORF that's where the team expects to be and steps need to be taken in the next few races of the season.

"I think it's where we expected to be," Wolff said after qualifying, "we know that we have the deficits, and we are in the battle park - we will move 2 tenths up or 2 tenths down. We need to do the big steps forward in the races to come.

"We also understand much better where there is a lack and we can also see here what we found in the wind tunnel. That will make us a few tenths faster. We're pushing through there now."

Drivers performance on different levels

When questioned about the performance of Lewis Hamilton, who only managed to qualify eighth, the Austrian gave a short but to-the-point answer: "The time never really came together. We need to look at what differences in set-up we had."

He did, however, have time to praise Russell in conversation with ORF, saying "George squeezed everything out of the car. There was nothing more inside, so the second row is good."

Red Bull still dangerous from 15th

Wolff explained his feelings surrounding Max Verstappen's issues and how there is still a chance for the Dutchman to fly through the pack: "Maybe they did it on purpose to win from the back. Whilst Perez has a different car."

Speaking to ORF, Wolff finished by adding to his previous comments on Sky Sports: "I think we're on par with Ferrari and Aston Martin in the long run, but we have to be careful when Verstappen rages from behind. I think we can get on the podium."