Mercedes came under pressure from AlphaTauri: 'Happy to beat Daniel'

Things are improving for Mercedes after a difficult start to the 2023 F1 season. Team boss Toto Wolff nevertheless sounds remarkably happy after the Mexico Grand Prix with performances that are not usually eye-catching for Mercedes.

Wolff was jubilant after Sunday's race in Mexico City in conversation with Sky Sports. The German was happy that his cars did pass the FIA tests this weekend and breathed a sigh of relief that George Russell had just enough left to keep ahead of AlphaTauri's Daniel Ricciardo at the last minute.

Lewis Hamilton's W14 crossed the line in Mexico in second place, almost 14 seconds behind Max Verstappen. With the fastest lap Hamilton grabbed on the final lap, the Brit closed the gap to Sergio Perez in P2 in the championship. For Russell, things did not go as well in Mexico. The Brit finished sixth and had just half a second margin over his pursuer Ricciardo in an AlphaTauri.

Wolff: "I think he totally ran out of tyres, and then it’s so difficult to defend, but he did his best, and then he kept the position against Daniel." In total, Mercedes brought home 27 points from Mexico, which was a relief after the previous race in the United States.

In Austin, Hamilton also finished on the podium, but his result was removed due to a disqualification. Hamilton's W14 was subjected to an FIA sample and found to be illegal. Wolff responded sarcastically after the Mexico GP: "It’s great to have passed scrutineering!"

Wolff's good mood is also due to the supreme atmosphere in Mexico. Wolff concluded the interview with Sky Sports: "It’s absolutely unbelievable. I don’t know if the cameras can capture that, but there’s nothing like this in Mexico City."