Wolff does not point to Red Bull as favourite at Imola: 'Their longruns were fastest'

Toto Wolff does not expect Max Verstappen to take victory at Imola. The Mercedes team principal thinks McLaren will set the pace, followed by Ferrari and only then Red Bull Racing and Mercedes.

Wolff says he still feels positive, although the team boss acknowledges that his team still lacks something to connect with rival Formula 1 teams. "Maybe we're a little bit closer to some of the teams. But then again, McLaren is here, tremendously fast. So I think our setups and our development directions is definitely clear now and good, and that's why that's encouraging," he told Sky Sports.

Based on the Grand Prix weekend so far, the 52-year-old Austrian cannot point to Red Bull as favourites and he even expects Lewis Hamilton and George Russell to be able to battle Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez just like that.

"I think McLaren on a single lap and on the long run with a good chunk fastest, and then it's all of us bunched up. I think that it will be still a Ferraris then probably the Red Bulls and us, but closer together," concluded the Mercedes team principal.