Wolff asserts Ferrari 'deserve' F1 success

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has stated Ferrari deserved to emerge victorious at the recent Australian Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz secured his third career victory at Albert Park as he dominated the race en route to the win.

Sainz showed strong pace in the opening laps and overtook Max Verstappen on lap two as the Dutchman battled a right rear brake issue.

The problem soon resulted in Verstappen's retirement from the event, allowing Sainz to end the Dutchman's nine-race streak of race wins.

Wolff recalled that Vasseur suffered an injury on the build-up to last year's round in Australia and was pleased to see a more cheerful outcome on this occasion.

"First of all, I'm happy for Ferrari," said Wolff. "I'm happy for Fred. He deserves that.

"Last year, we were flying together and on the flight, Dubai to Melbourne, he had a disc [in his back] that jumped out and he couldn't sit or sleep. He was standing in the aeroplane for 13 hours.

"Then, one of his cars crashed out and the other one finished P4, and it looked disastrous. He had the pressure for all of Italy and now he's had a 1-2."

Wolff hails Sainz

Sainz's victory came amid his return to the cockpit after missing the previous round in Saudi Arabia due to appendicitis.

The Spaniard is also driving to secure a drive next year after being told prior to the start of the campaign that he would be replaced at Ferrari by Lewis Hamilton.

"As much as I hate our situation, [Vasseur] deserves that. Ferrari deserves that. And Italy deserves it,” Wolff said.

"Carlos deserves it - after not only the appendix, but also basically being told 'You're not here anymore'.

“And bang - you can see what some human power can do when it needs to."