2019 Chinese Grand Prix, Saturday – Wolfgang Wilhelm
In a recent statement, Wolff expressed his thoughts on Mercedes Benz sales numbers in 2023. The company managed to sell a total of 2,043,800 cars, with a significant portion of 737,200 going to the Chinese market, which is its largest market to date.
During Mercedes’ preview for the Chinese Grand Prix, Wolff emphasized the importance of returning to China. He highlighted China’s status as the world’s largest automotive market and the second largest economy, making it a crucial market for the sport. Wolff also acknowledged the positive growth of F1 in recent years and emphasized the importance of China in continuing this progress.
In the previous Chinese Grand Prix held in 2019, Mercedes secured a notable first and second place, with Lewis Hamilton leading Valtteri Bottas across the finish line. Wolff expressed excitement in racing in Shanghai again after a five-year hiatus and bringing F1 back to Chinese fans. He anticipated a fantastic event with a sold-out crowd expected.
Wolff acknowledged that the upcoming race weekend will present several challenges. With the introduction of new cars, new tires, and changes in the track surface since the last race in China, there will be many unknown factors. Additionally, the implementation of the first Sprint weekend of the year, including a second parc fermé, will increase the intensity of the weekend. Wolff recognized that these changes will test the teams’ ability to make the right decisions with limited information, but expressed enthusiasm for the impending challenge.
Despite the current difficulties of Mercedes in the F1 season, Wolff remains optimistic. He highlighted the solid progress made with his car in the previous race in Japan, even if the main results may not have reflected that. Wolff expressed confidence in building on this progress in the Chinese Grand Prix.
Mercedes currently holds the fourth position in the F1 Constructors’ Championship, with 34 points. The Chinese Grand Prix will mark the fifth race of the season.
