Wolff: 'We're under no illusions: we still lack pace compared to Red Bull'

Looking ahead to the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is satisfied with the result in Bahrain but says that his team is still far from confident of winning its eighth consecutive world title, this is due to the threat posed by the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes.

"The 2021 F1 season certainly began in spectacular style", began Wolff in his outlook in a recent press release from Mercedes. "It was an encouraging first race, coming away from Bahrain with a double podium, and hopefully the duel in the desert between us and Red Bull is a sign of what's to come this year."

The Austrian then strikes a more sober tone when talking about the competitive threat in the form of Red Bull racing. "We may have won the first round, but we're under no illusions that this will be a straightforward season. The car is still lacking pace over a single lap and Red Bull appear to have the edge right now. We're pushing hard to close the gap, and this is a challenge we relish", said Wolff.

Imola technically challenging

"Round two, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, is just around the corner." the Silver Arrows team boss continued. "Imola is such an historic and iconic venue, and it's a track the drivers really enjoy, with its sweeping nature, high speeds and variety of corner types." This weekend will show whether Mercedes can beat the faster RBR 16 B on Imola's more technically oriented circuit.