Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff is hopeful his team will “take a step forward immediately” in Saudi Arabia this we𒅌ekend.

Mercedes endured an “underwhel𒊎ming” season-oꦗpening Bahrain, finishing fifth and seventh.

While Mercedes’ 🐠race was compromised by an overheating power unit, due to a mistake with their cooling on the W15, it seemed they were the third-fastest team in Bahrain behind Red Bull and ๊Ferrari.

Reflecting on Bahrain, Wolff said: “O🌌ur race in Bahrain was best described as underwhel🌃ming. We were hopeful of a stronger showing after our performance in practice and qualifying. 

“Both drivers 💙were pleased with the balance earlier in th🤡e weekend, and the more stable platform provided by the W15.

“Unfortunately on Saturday evening, our cooling performance didn't match our predictions. That forced us into management mode early❀ on, which had the knock-on impact of reducing tyre temperatures below optimum.

“That cost us the opportunity to show something closer to our true potential. It was a frustrating way to 𝓰start the season but one we will learn from.”

Wolff is confident Mercedes will take a st🅘ep forward as they continue to learn about their new challenger.

“We've got an opportunity to take a step forward immediate𝔍ly. Jeddah is a street track with a lot of high-speed content,” heℱ added. 

“It will be good to continue our learning 🅺with the new car on a very different circuit to Bahrain. We will be aiming for a more consistent weekend and to understand our true performance relative to the rest of the grid.”

Mercedes haven’t finished on the podium in Jeddah since 2021, winning t♐he race with Lew🔜is Hamilton.