F1 News

Toto Wolff: We were surprised Ferrari didn't have any pace at all

Toto Wolff: "We were surprised Ferrari didn't have any pace at all"

17-03-2019 07:00
7

Toto Wolff says he and Mercedes were surprised to see Ferrari so far behind after the opening weekend of the season. The Silver Arrows comfortably achieved a double one-two on Saturday and Sunday.

"We were surprised that we had a lot of pace, and that they [Ferrari] didn't have any pace at all," Wolff told Sky Sports.

Hamilton started on pole, but it was Valtteri Bottas who led at the first corner and went on to take the race win. At the time of speaking, he thought this was "just a bit of wheelspin for Lewis".

Bottas was winless in 2018, but when arriving back after the winter break, he told Wolff "I'm back" and Wolff was confident Bottas would perform.

"I just remember his early years when he was the benchmark and would destroy everyone. When he came back from the winter he told me 'I'm back'," he added.

See also: Bottas says it was his great race ever.