Since 2022, an eerie curse has been following the Mercedes squad. The curse has hindered its every possible chance of winning a Sunday race. Moreover, the ‘ground effect’ has been the harbinger of this curse, as, since its introduction, the Silver Arrows have lost the winning path. Moreover, the technical team has been strangled by aerodynamic issues, further aggravating the W15 woes.
However, the Brackley-based outfit might have discovered the occult spell to break the curse. Since the Miami GP, the technical crew has leapt forward in the car development battle. As a result, the team started marching towards the top. Although fans believed all the upgrades were a gimmick, it finally worked out. Consequently, the team got two consecutive podium finishes, and Toto Wolff feels it’s just the beginning of a solid comeback.
Back-To-Back Podium Ignites Hope For A Solid Comeback
The Mercedes team manager is upbeat with their recent developments. With Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finishing in third and fourth, the team is inching closer towards a win. In a post-race evaluation of the Barcelona Grand Prix, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff discussed the strategic considerations that influenced their success. Wolff said that choosing Hard tyres for George Russell was a mistake, acknowledging that the plan was not ideal and blaming it on team error.
Further, he also mentioned a delayed pit stop, which lost them three seconds. When asked if Mercedes overestimated the viability of the soft tyres, Wolff stated that Russell’s troubles with the hard tyres affected the decision to lengthen Lewis Hamilton’s middle stint. Initially, the crew thought the Hard tyres were the best option, but they did not have any replacement Soft tyres available, which could have offered an advantage for a few further laps.
Moreover, the Mercedes boss feels the team is considerably closer to contending for victories and may be able to challenge for victory. The condition for winning is to reduce the remaining distance, despite its competitors also upgrading their vehicles. The Austrian Billionaire finished by ruminating on squandered opportunities, stating that Mercedes might have won both Montreal and Barcelona given the correct circumstances. However, he admitted they may have misjudged their capabilities, resulting in strategic errors.
Mercedes Boss Believes Red Bull And McLaren Are Setting The Benchmark
The Spanish GP is the litmus test for every F1 car, providing every insight about the vehicle. The track is designed to help the team understand the true nature of its F1 prospect. Moreover, the McLaren F1 car was among the fastest on the Barcelona circuit. On the other hand, the Red Bull’s RB20 took the chequered flag.
Thus, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff feels the top two teams are Red Bull and McLaren, consistently setting the benchmark. Toto Wolff accepted that McLaren was the quickest, but Max Verstappen made the difference.
