Wolff praises Sainz after bad news: 'You see what human strength does'

Mercedes had few illusions prior to the season. The Germans were never expected to catch up, let alone pass Red Bull Racing in 2024. Equalling second place among constructors would already be a fine achievement. Three races into the season, however, it seems that Ferrari - and perhaps even McLaren - have also passed Mercedes.

So while Mercedes has been dry in terms of race wins since Brazil '22, Ferrari managed to beat Red Bull Racing. After Singapore '23, Carlos Sainz also took victory in Australia. Toto Wolff would have liked things to be different, but the Mercedes team boss also admires the way his rival and friend Frederic Vasseur is allowing Ferrari to become increasingly competitive.

Wolff happy for friend Vasseur

"First of all, I am happy for Ferrari," Wolff says. "I'm happy for Fred. He deserves that. And last year we were flying together. And on the flight, Dubai to Melbourne, in Emirates. He had this [in his back] that jumped out and he couldn't sit or sleep and he was standing in the airplane for 13 hours. And then one of his car crashed out and the other one finished P4 and it was disastrous."

"So and he had the pressure for all of Italy and now he's had a one-two and then as much as I hate our situation, he deserves that, and Ferrari deserves that, and Italy deserves it, and Carlos deserves it. After not only the appendix but also basically being told, ‘you're not here anymore’. And then it goes. You can see what human power can do when it really needs to," Wolff praised Sainz, who is clearly in the picture to succeed Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.