Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff believes that the outcome of the 2024 season is already as good as decided.

Despite glimpses of competition from Ferrari, McLaren and even Mercedes, the fact is that the Red Bull steamroller continues on its merry way, with only the blip of a brake issue in Australia marring a clean sweep for its star driver.

Though Ferrari is currently best of the rest, ahead of McLaren, neither appears to be anywhere near a position to regularly take on the Austrian team, while Mercedes finds itself under threat from Aston Martin.

"No one is going to catch Max this year," said Wolff after the Dutchman claimed his third win of the season, cruising home over 20 seconds ahead of the next non-Red Bull car.

"His driving and the car are just spectacular," he added. "You can see the way he manages the tyres, and basically this season now is (about) best of the rest.

"That's the fact, that is all, but hopefully we can catch up to the to the McLarens and to the Ferraris and fight for P2. This is what it is this year and what is was last year and we had a P2 last year."

Appearing to take a leaf out of the Austrian's book, Verstappen played down the claim, though stopping short of suggesting that the superiority of his package almost made him the underdog.

"Lately, Toto has been really nice, saying a lot of nice things about me!" laughed the Dutchman. "No, I don't know. It's still a very long season.

"I don't want to think about the rest of the season too much," he added. "I really want to approach it race by race. I know there will be tracks coming up that might not be so favourable for us, but then, of course, when we do get to tracks where we know that we can be quick, we have to really take advantage of it and score the maximum amount of points as a team, and that's what we'll continue to try and do.

"Then, of course, I think we know that we get to tracks where maybe it's a bit more difficult we have to try and maximise that as well, where maybe other teams can win."

"If your expectation is to eventually race for wins and for championships you can say we are in a bit of no man's land," said Wolff, "because Max and Red Bull are far ahead.

"It is not satisfying for a team fighting for P2, P3 and P4," he added. "If I was to look from a pure sporting point of view it is P1 what matters, not P2, P3 or P4 but this is the reality that we are facing at the moment."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 10/04/2024 0:00

"Is this the greatest TP in the business ? The reality is that ATM Mercedes are, comparatively speaking, seemingly 4th in the pecking order. Now is the time to rally the troops, show some spirit, not publically acknowledge their performance failures. This is a long season and who knows what the specialists on the payroll may come up with. What no one needs is the TP writing off the year at this early stage. That is defeatist. Mercedes performance or lack thereof is out there for all to see....just get on with looking for solutions. They should also be looking long and hard at their drivers. Who has the best performance to date? Why is it so? Is it because next year that driver wants to be seen as the team leader? The driver with the worst performance is leaving the team so where is all the motivation, despite claims of the reverse ? Kallenius and Radcliffe surely must be looking at Wolff to get on and rectify what appears to be shaping up as another year of failure to bother the series leaders. Seriously, I can't fathom last weekends facade with Lord and Wolff cutting such a dismal picture. Time for winds of change to blow through the garages of Mercedes.....Wonder what Niki would've thought about all this?"

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2. Posted by Rock Doc, 09/04/2024 20:41

"A little paraphrasing there but what he really means is no one on his team will challenge Max. Mercs are basically 4th best at present a good distance behind Ferrari and McLaren with Alonso hard on their heals.

I think the Ferraris can certainly challenge the Red Bulls this season even with Max at the wheel. But that is about it. MacLarens are not good enough in the race."

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 08/04/2024 10:44

"Self-evidently true, at present but...."

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"No one is going to catch Max this year," says Wolff

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