Mercedes has been very inconsistent in terms of performance this season. Moreover, they have far fewer podium finishes than the championship leaders, Red Bull. However, the reigning champions did not get a podium in Singapore. On the other hand, Mercedes was so close to having another double podium this season. George Russell had a very close fight with McLaren’s Lando Norris. Lewis Hamilton was right behind George Russell until the final lap.
Ferrari ended Red Bull’s winning streak and their GP win drought in Singapore last Sunday. But when will Mercedes end the GP win drought? Mercedes can take a lot of positives from the Singaporean Grand Prix. They proved that they are truly tough competitors on high downforce tracks. But there is one more thing that impressed the Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff.
Toto Wolff Would Like To Repeat The Same Strategy Every Race
Moreover, the Austrian billionaire boss of the German F1 team felt good when his team made the decision to go for the win in Marina Bay. The worst outcome, as per Toto Wolff, could have been a P2 and P5 finish. On the other hand, the best result was obviously a win or perhaps a P2 finish. Moreover, Toto Wolff mentioned in a post-race interview that he loved the call when the driver and team strategist said they were going for it. Toto Wolff believes it is a decision worth repeating every day of the race weekends. It is okay that the team tried to win but could not.
Moreover, Toto Wolff feels the Singaporean Grand Prix should motivate his team because everything is not wrong with the W14 car. For sure, there is some positives in the car. Moreover, the W14 is a car that Mercedes boss refers to as a “Surprise box.” Toto Wolff is proud of his team for giving their best shot and aim to win a race. Most importantly, the Mercedes team has performed strongly in Singapore. That’s the positive the German will take from here as they move on to the next race in Japan.
Mercedes Drivers Showed Genuine Pace But Russell Had An Unlucky End
It was really unfortunate for the 25-year-old Mercedes driver to crash out of the race at the fag end of the Grand Prix. Russell did impress everybody with his pace in the Marina Bay race. Not just only on Sunday but on Friday and Saturday as well. Mercedes was hoping to have a great weekend in Singapore due to its high downforce race track. But they could have a repeat of the last Brazilian Grand Prix when George Russell came on top, with Lewis Hamilton securing P2.
But last Sunday in the Singaporean Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, and McLaren’s Lando Norris were just too fast for Hamilton, and Russell had an unfortunate DNF. Till the final lap, there was a close fight between four drivers – Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton. Eventually, Russell made way for his star teammate, who secured a P3 finish. It was Hamilton’s 196th podium in his career. But Mercedes is still winless since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.