Wolff: Suzuki will be a challenge for the driver and the car

      After two stages, Mercedes takes second place in the Constructors' Cup, earning 57 points. This is the best start to the season for the team since 2021, and CEO Toto Wolff wants the positive trend for Mercedes to continue at the Japanese Grand Prix.

      Toto Wolff: "We are striving to build on the strong results shown at the beginning of the season in the upcoming series of improved stages. The W16 has proven to be stable and consistent, with riders feeling confident behind the wheel. This led to good performances in Australia and China – for us, the start of the season turned out to be the best since 2021.

      We know that we have to get more speed out of the car if we want to be at the forefront at every stage, but development doesn't happen in an instant. Therefore, in Japan, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, we must make the most of the car that we currently have at our disposal. There is no doubt that the opponents will improve too, so we need to do everything in our power if we want to continue to show the same results as at the beginning of the season, which turned out to be promising.

      Suzuki, with its fast turns and height difference, will be a real challenge for the rider and the car. Kimi Antonelli will be competing on this circuit for the first time, so a new challenge awaits him, but he is ready for it. Kimi has coped with all the difficulties that have already befallen him, and we expect him to continue to make progress.

      George is having the strongest start to the season of his career. He proved himself to be a mature, stable and fast racer. He performs exactly as we expected from the lead driver of the Mercedes factory team. He's going to show his form this weekend in Japan as well."