Toto Wolff admits Mercedes have ‘mountain to climb’ as he avoids setting bold F1 2024 targets

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted that his team have a “mountain to climb” in order to get back to winning ways in F1.

The Brackley-based outfit unveiled on Wednesday morning the revamped black and silver W15 car which they hope will return them to the front of the grid in 2024 after two difficult campaigns since the introduction of new aerodynamic regulations.

Despite finishing second in last year’s constructors’ standings, Mercedes endured their first winless season since 2011 as Red Bull claimed 21 victories from 22 races with their dominant RB19.

The long-awaited and much-changed W15 - the final car seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton will drive before moving to Ferrari - will have its first shakedown at Silverstone today.

"We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport," Mercedes team principal Wolff conceded.

"But our ambition and determination are strong.

"Since charting this new course, development has progressed well. We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we've made the step we've aimed for.”

During a short Q&A at Mercedes’ digital launch event, Wolff notably did not set any bold targets for his side to achieve in 2024.

Instead, emphasis was placed on simply giving Hamilton and teammate George Russell a more predictable car.

"The target is to do a good job,” Wolff stated. "Look inwards, like I said. Try to have a car on track that is predictable, that has lots of downforce, a strong engine.

"And just do a solid job, deliver on our targets. That is what we would like to achieve, To give a car to Lewis [Hamilton] and George [Russell] that they enjoy driving, and not as difficult as the previous years’.

"And hopefully in Bahrain in a week's time we will have more good feedback than bad, but I'm really looking forward to have that car out on track.”

Pre-season testing takes place next week in Bahrain, before the season gets underway with the opening grand prix on March 2.