Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff conceded a win was never in the “grasp” of the team at last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix. PHOTO: Mercedesamgf1.com

BRENDAN LINES November 11, 2021

PRESSURE has mounted on defending world champion Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes ahead of this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

A rollercoaster Mexico City Grand Prix the previous weekend fell apart in spectacular fashion, when pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas’ race was compromised by a first-corner collision, leaving Hamilton to single handedly fight with the Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reflected on the team’s weekend in Mexico and conceded “the win was never in our grasp”.

“But Lewis gave all he had to hang onto that second place, in a car that should probably have finished third. It was a strong defensive drive from him, securing valuable points for both Championships.”

After Verstappen extended his lead in the drivers championship in Mexico City last weekend, it is Mercedes who has “catching up to do” Wolff says.

“We’ll be throwing everything we’ve got at the Brazilian Grand Prix and the races beyond,” Wolff said.

“It’ll be an intense battle, but we’ll continue to push hard and keep our eyes firmly set on the end goal.”

The task ahead for Mercedes this weekend in Brazil at Interlagos will be to fight a battle on two fronts, attacking Verstappen’s 19-point lead in the drivers championship and defend a one-point lead in the constructors.

With the season’s final sprint qualifying race scheduled for this weekend’s Interlagos race, a potential 29 points on offer for the driver to win both Saturday and Sunday’s races with the fastest lap, will add spice to the drivers championship.

But Interlagos has not been exclusively favourable to the Mercedes in the recent past, the winner of the last Grand Prix two years ago was Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in 2019.

Before that, Nico Rosberg (2014, 2015) and Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2018) each chalked up two wins for the team.

FP1 for the Brazilian Grand Prix begins 2.00am ACDST.