Punching himself in the face would have made him look even more foolish than he already is, leading a sinking ship, with their main asset jumping ship to join Ferrari at the perfect moment.
Wolff’s self-criticism has been a broken record since his team struggled with the current rules of F1, which prioritize aerodynamics. Despite a significant change in design philosophy, they embarrassingly exposed themselves in Melbourne.
On Friday, they believed their car was fine. They decided to be clever and take an aggressive approach to Hamilton’s car setup, aiming for better lap times. However, in FP2, car #44 was one of the slowest, trailing by a second and a half. This highlights a fundamental lack of understanding of their own package.
On Saturday, Russell outperformed Hamilton (now 3-0) in qualifying at Albert Park. He was on course to score valuable points when, on the last lap, instead of settling for P6, he tried to overtake Fernando Alonso’s unpredictable Aston Martin. Unfortunately, the Mercedes ended up upside down, resulting in a senseless exit for the team at the Australian GP.
After the race in Melbourne, Wolff expressed his thoughts to F1.com: “It would be dishonest if I said I felt positive or optimistic at any point. But we must overcome these negative thoughts and say, ‘let’s turn this situation around.’ It feels incredibly brutal.
“We started this season believing that this car is an improvement over last year. However, when you look at last year’s race in Australia, Leclerc crashed and Sainz finished fourth, but was penalized and dropped out of the top 10. McLaren, which was in 17th, 18th, and 19th place in that race, is now 40 seconds ahead of us. This is a testament that when things go right, you can quickly turn the situation around. We must continue to believe,” insisted the Austrian.
With Hamilton’s departure, no replacement driver lined up, and a lackluster team that cannot attract top talents like Max Verstappen, combined with a poor car for this season and possibly the next, Mercedes and its boss face a bleak future.
Currently, it is a challenging period, admitted Wolff. “As a co-owner of this business, I must ensure that my contribution is constructive and innovative. Therefore, I would be the first to say that if anyone has a superior concept, inform me, because I am eager to quickly reverse the fortunes of this team. I am willing to provide my opinion and explore potential solutions or individuals who can help us.”
Addressing the underlying issue, borrowing wisdom from McLaren legend Ron Dennis, Wolff explained in his own unique way: “Our problem lies in the laws of physics, not in our philosophy or organization. We have not made any foolish decisions since 2021. We are simply struggling to understand certain behaviors of the car that we previously understood.”
“I analyze my actions every day and consider whether it is appropriate to question the manager or coach. While it is a valid question, I do not believe it is necessary at this time,” Wolff added.
He concluded by praising Hamilton for performing at his best and Russell for his fighting spirit, emphasizing the need to resolve their current situation.
“That” refers to their current position, which is potentially fourth, fifth, or even sixth in the hierarchy, based on their lackluster performance in Australia. They are far behind the race-winning Ferrari and even further behind the previously dominant Red Bulls. In essence, Wolff and his Mercedes team face a tough task ahead.
© 2024
Portugal wins Euro 2024 with Cristiano Ronaldo goal
The Portuguese national football team won the Euro 2024 after an exciting match against Germany. The winning goal was scored by the star Cristiano Ronaldo, who once again showed his genius and leadership on the field.
The game started with Germany pressing and creating good goal-scoring opportunities. However, Portugal managed to defend well and balance the match. At 35 minutes into the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo received a beautiful pass from Bernardo Silva and finished skillfully, opening the scoring for Portugal.
In the second half, Germany attacked in search of an equalizer, but the Portuguese defense proved solid and managed to hold onto the result. Cristiano Ronaldo had a few more chances to extend the lead, but was stopped by the good saves of the German goalkeeper.
After the final whistle, the Portuguese fans stormed the field to celebrate the victory. It was an emotional and historic party for Portuguese football, which for the second time won the Eurocup.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the standout of the competition, being the top scorer and the most valuable player of the tournament. His flawless performance and goal in the final secured Portugal’s victory and further solidified his status as a football legend.
The Portuguese national team is now preparing for the 2026 World Cup, where they will seek to repeat the feat and win the world title. The fans are confident and hope that Cristiano Ronaldo continues to shine and lead the team towards success.
Portugal can be proud of their national team and their captain. The 2024 Euro Cup will go down in history as another epic achievement for Portuguese football. Congratulations to all the players, coaching staff, and fans who were part of this incredible journey. The trophy is ours!
