Japanese GP: Wolff Talks About 'Wrong Choice', Joins Team 'To Be Close To The Action'

Toto Wolff made a U-turn on his decision not to attend the Japanese Grand Prix as it would have been the 바카라�wrong choice바카라� given Mercedes recent troubles. (More Motorsport News)

The Mercedes team boss was scheduled not to be at Suzuka this weekend and the PA news agency understands that was planned before the start of the new season and not as a result of the team바카라�s poor performance at the Australian Grand Prix.

Neither Lewis Hamilton nor George Russell finished the race in Melbourne, with Russell바카라�s fifth-placed finish in the season-opener in Bahrain the best result for the team so far this year.

Having dominated the sport between 2014 and 2021, Mercedes have struggled since new regulations arrived the following year and have won just one race in that time.

Wolff changed his mind on attending the race in Suzuka 바카라� where Russell and Hamilton finished fourth and fifth in first practice before a rain-affected second session 바카라� and explained the call on Friday afternoon.

바카라�I had planned not to come to Japan, because there바카라�s so much on back in Europe, things to do,바카라� he said.

바카라�But then I felt not coming to Japan was the wrong choice. I think it바카라�s important to be with the race team바카라�it does me good also, to be close to the action.

바카라�We바카라�re experimenting with a few things and then being part of the team really gives me energy and I hope the other way around, too. So that바카라�s why I decided against staying in Europe.바카라�

Speaking on Thursday, Hamilton was asked about the tough times of both drivers not crossing the finish line last time out.

바카라�I think it바카라�s all about perspective. I think for us of course we바카라�ve not started the season where we wanted to be,바카라� he said.

바카라�We바카라�ve got a long way to go. We바카라�ve seen in the past 바카라� last year for example 바카라� how things can switch with certain teams.

바카라�I think we바카라�ve just got to learn as much as we can, take as much as we can from the data, remain positive, continue to work hard and I always say it바카라�s not how you fall, it바카라�s how you get up.

바카라�We will just continue to chase and fight and hope we can be fighting at the front at some stage.바카라�

Wolff, too, was keen to be optimistic when asked about the struggles of the season so far.

바카라�We are a sports team, we바카라�ve won eight times in a row, and that hasn바카라�t been done before. But you have periods where you struggle, like any other sports team, and you can바카라�t win every time.

바카라�That바카라�s why this is a super challenge and it바카라�s not a race, it바카라�s not one single season, and then you come back out on top, but it바카라�s the third one in a row.

바카라�But I remain absolutely convinced that we will be looking back in a few years and saying that was so tough, but so important for the development of the team.바카라�

Hamilton, who has won six of Mercedes바카라� seven consecutive drivers바카라� championships, is leaving to join Ferrari next season.

He has tipped Sebastian Vettel as an 바카라�amazing option바카라� to take his seat at Mercedes after the four-time world champion revealed he has been considering returning to F1 after leaving in 2022.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Vettel admitted he has been talking to Wolff 바카라� who was full of praise for the former Red Bull and Ferrari man, before confirming he has whittled down the options for 2025 to two or three drivers. 바카라�Sebastian is someone you can never discount,바카라� he said. 바카라�Sebastian is someone you can never discount,바카라� he said.

바카라�Sebastian is someone you can never discount,바카라� he said.

바카라�His track record is phenomenal, and sometimes maybe taking a break is also good to evaluate what바카라�s important for you and re-find your motivation.

바카라�We haven바카라�t taken the decision yet and it is not something we plan to do in the next few weeks, the driver market is very dynamic and some of the really good guys are about so sign for the other teams.바카라�