Toto Wolff acknowledged that he was ‘fed up’ after qualifying on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Mercedes didn’t capitalise totally on Carlos Sainz’s Q1 elimination when Lewis Hamilton didn’t make the lower for Q3.
Mercedes appeared to have been dealt a present in Q1 when Sainz was knocked out by Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez however they could not take full benefit within the second a part of qualifying.
After a mediocre ultimate run Hamilton was sitting on the fringes of the highest ten earlier than team-mate George Russell improved to set his team-mate on the right track for back-to-back Q2 exits.
There was somewhat extra for Wolff to have fun in Q3 as Russell managed to ship on the potential that he demonstrated throughout FP3 and qualify on the second row.
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Nonetheless, even that success got here with a caveat as Charles Leclerc produced a sensational lap to put his Ferrari on the entrance row alongside polesitter Max Verstappen.
Discussing Mercedes’ night with Sky Sports activities F1, Wolff stated: “FP3 was dominant. Norris might have in all probability been there, and would have in qualifying by the best way.
“It simply did not come collectively. Most likely that is what was within the automotive. Expectations have been greater. I am fed up with having explanations on why it did not go effectively.
“We have been good within the sizzling, we weren’t within the chilly. [On] earlier days it has been the opposite means round. I am joyful this was the final qualifying of the season and we’ll include a brand new automotive.”
The Silver Arrows head into Sunday’s race with a slender four-point lead over Ferrari within the Constructors’ Championship, though momentum has been within the Scuderia’s nook following Leclerc’s P2 end in Las Vegas.
That stated, Mercedes’ rivals have been on the again foot for the reason that begin of the weekend on the opposite facet of the storage after Sainz introduced out the purple flag in FP2 with a serious shunt on the exit of Flip 2.