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IMOLA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff walk in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on October 30, 2020 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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IMOLA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP and Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff walk in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on October 30, 2020 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Mercedes has had a dismal to the 2022 season by their high standards. The team has only managed one podium in the first two races of the season, with Lewis Hamilton finishing P3 in Bahrain. But Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shocked everyone at his post-qualifying comments in Australia.
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Wolff mentioned that the German team will not win the championships in 2022 as they are so far behind. It is certainly odd to hear that the German team has already counted themselves out of the championship with just 3 races in.
READ MORE: Why Do Mercedes Dominate F1?
It is true that they are struggling against Ferrari and Red Bull, but Wolff‘s comments are certainly surprising.
Toto Wolff concedes the 8th world championship for Lewis Hamilton
Fans know Mercedes for their fighting spirit and never give up attitude till the last race of the season. So these comments are especially shocking to hear as fans were gearing up for a Mercedes comeback in the 2022 season.
Toto: "At the end of the day we probably won't be able to compete for the title this year because it's just running away from us, but this is not his [Lewis] last year & we have to see the race weekends as a test now, to get the car ready, to be there next year."#SkyGermany
— tami. (@Vetteleclerc) April 9, 2022
He also mentioned that Lewis Hamilton might not win his 8th world championship this season, but he’s not worried about that as he has one more year on his contract.
“Really positive. We are also trying to build ourselves up from session to session, day by day. At the end of the day, we probably won’t be able to compete for the title this year because it’s just running away from us, but this is not his [Lewis] last year & we have to see the race weekends as a test now, to get the car ready, to be there next year,” said Toto.
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ISTANBUL, TURKEY – NOVEMBER 15: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrate winning the 7th F1 World Drivers Championship with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Turkey at Intercity Istanbul Park on November 15, 2020, in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Dan Istitene – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Despite the teams’ early-season struggles, it would be madness to not count them and Hamilton out of the championship this soon. But the team and Hamilton have another chance of spraying the champagne as he qualified for P5 in Australia.
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But it would be difficult for him to keep behind a charging Sainz and fast Alonso in the race. Lewis did not look happy with his car’s performance after the practice sessions and was complaining that no changes make any difference.
But Lewis would hope that they have enough performance to challenge Norris ahead of him and keep the faster behind in the race. Let us see how the 7-time world champion fares in Melbourne tomorrow.
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