In a recent statement, Wolff expressed his thoughts on the sales figures of Mercedes Benz 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 their largest market to date.
During Mercedes’ preview of 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 second biggest economy, making it a crucial market for the sport. Wolff also acknowledged the positive growth of F1 in recent years and emphasized the significance of China in continuing this progress.
In the previous Chinese Grand Prix held in 2019, Mercedes achieved a remarkable first and second place finish, with Lewis Hamilton leading Valtteri Bottas at the finish line. Wolff expressed excitement about racing in Shanghai again after a five-year hiatus and bringing F1 back to the Chinese fans. He anticipated a fantastic event with a sell-out crowd expected.
Wolff acknowledged that the upcoming race weekend will present various challenges. With the introduction of new cars, new tires, and changes to 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 add to the intensity of the weekend. Wolff acknowledged that these changes will test the teams’ ability to make correct decisions with limited information but expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge.
Despite Mercedes’ current struggles in the F1 season, Wolff remains optimistic. He highlighted the solid progress made with their car in the previous race in Japan, even though the headline results may not have reflected it. Wolff expressed confidence in building upon that 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.