The Mercedes team has been teasing its fans with a series of new upgrades. While every upgrade brings hope for a turnaround, the results are often disappointing. However, the technical team at Brackley has failed to address the underlying issue. As a result, the W15 F1 car is no longer competing for the top spot. In stark contrast, their customer, McLaren, is consistently outperforming and securing podium finishes.
The car development war is getting intense as the season progresses. Thus, even a slight misstep could ruin the German marque’s comeback chances. Hence, the team is ready to install another upgrade ahead of the Canada challenge. While the tweak might not do a ‘miracle,’ the astute team boss, Toto Wolff, is upbeat about their strategy.
Toto Wolff Believes Mercedes’ Development Plans Are on the Right Track
All the top F1 teams are gearing up as the season enters a tight corner. Because of the intense competition, the space for an error is minuscule. While Red Bul is on top at the moment, the probability of them winning the world title is not 1. Moreover, teams like Ferrari and McLaren are learning from RBR and implementing the best strategies. Therefore, the fight for the top spot is getting interesting. However, Mercedes, currently in fourth place, is merely an onlooker in this fierce competition. While the German team is only one position behind McLaren, they trail the British squad by a significant margin of 88 points. Despite the ongoing slump, the team representatives remain upbeat. Further, the team installed a handful of tweaks ahead of the Miami and Imola GP. However, the results were not as they expected.
The team has brought a new upgrade ahead of teh Canada Grand Prix. Earlier, the circuit-specific changes in Monaco helped the team to perform better. Although the Mercedes duo finished at P5 and P7, the W15 looked much better. After the race, the trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, said the team is building momentum with more minor but consistent upgrades. Similarly, Toto Wolff expressed his optimism in the Montreal preview. The Austrian executive asserted that the car progresses as the technical team tackles the underlying issues. Further, he confirmed the new front wings for both drivers and a few circuit-specific setups. While Wolff remains positive ahead of the weekend, he is well aware of the ever-growing competition in the F1 arena.
‘Mercedes Would Be In Front After Silverstone,’ Says George Russell
George Russell is hopeful about the forthcoming weekend. Following a solid performance in Monaco, the team is considering a few modest tweaks. While both vehicles will wear the revised front wings in Canada, more changes are planned. Furthermore, while describing the growth at Brackley, Russell stated that he is looking forward to the Silverstone Grand Prix since the team is on the correct track.
The Brit believes these ‘quick enhancements’ will drive the team to the top of the grid. Furthermore, he discussed Mercedes’ victories in Silverstone, which explains his optimism. However, supporters are losing patience and accusing Mercedes of making ‘false claims.’