Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has explained why he did 🔯a U-turn on his decision to attend this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Wolff had planned to miss the race at Suzuka - like he dꦰid in 2023 - to remain back at the team’s base.

The Austrian had revealed that he wanted to reduce the amoun𒈔t of races he was prꦿesent for given the ever-expanding F1 calendar.

However, amid Mer💦cedes’ tough start to the year, Wo𝓰lff changed his plans, attending the race in Japan.

Explaining that decision in the FIA press conference on Friday, Wolff said: “Yeah, I had planned not to come to Japan because there's s💞o much on back in ಞEurope, things to do.

“But then I felt not coming to Japan was the wrong choice. I think it's important to be with the race team also. It does me good also to be close to the action. We are experimenting with a few things and then being part of the team really gives me energy. I hope the other way around too. So that's why I decided against st🅺aying in Europe.”

Mercedes have endured a miserable start to the season, scoring ꦯjust 26 points in the first three rounds - equa♚lling their worst start to a campaign since 2012.

They suffered a double-DNF last time out in Australia as 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton suffered an engine failure, while 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell crashed out.

Desp🅷ite another disappointing start to a campaign, Wolff remains “convinced” Mercedes can turn it around in the coming years.

“I think 🎃we're a sports team. We've won eight times in a row and that hasn't been done before, you have periods where you struggle like any other sports team and you can't win every time,” he added.

“That's why this is a super challenge. It's not a race, it's not one single season and then you come back out on top, but it's the third 🐻one in a row.

“But I remain absolutely convinced that we will be looking b🍰ack in a few years and saying that was so tough but so important for the development of the team from maybe an organisational standpoint, from re-evaluating our tools and systems, which clearly don't work as good as they did in previous regulations.”