Wolff hands Mercedes instruction after Russell 'winter' pole

Toto Wolff has told his Mercedes team that it must develop a car that "functions more" in different conditions after George Russell stormed to a "winter" Las Vegas pole. 

Mercedes' W15 has been at its strongest this season in colder conditions, with Russell taking pole in the wet in Canada and Britain, with Lewis Hamilton winning the British and Belgian Grands Prix in similar conditions. 

Russell qualified second in the wet in Brazil last time out, and in frigid conditions in Las Vegas, was able to convert strong practice pace into a fourth career pole, by 0.098s with Hamilton only 10th after a pair of Q3 mistakes - but his Q2 segment topping time would have been good enough for P3.

Wolff christened Mercedes as "dirty track champions" after FP1, but wants to see the W16 machine of 2025 able to perform in all types of conditions.

"We just need winter time, we need Silverstone and Spa in the rain and cold and we need to go to Las Vegas to thrive at midnight," he told Sky Sports F1.

"Our car comes alive when there is a lack of grip and it is cold, and it is nice to see this weekend. 

"It is a relative game; the feedback we get from the drivers is that the car feels okay, and you hear complaints on other cars that there is a lack of grip.

"But we need to have a basis that functions more on all kinds of tracks."

Looking ahead to the race, Wolff felt P4 starter Charles Leclerc could be the biggest threat.

"I think Leclerc was the quickest on the long runs, but it is really going to be about making sure that the tyres don't grain and take it from there. 

"Any of the top teams can win."