The technical teams have been going full throttle for the last two weekends as the top squads gear up to accelerate. While Ferrari and McLaren introduced some major tweaks ahead of Imola, Mercedes was trying to fix the W15 project. However, the result did not favor the Silver Arrows, as they have scored 79 points until now.
The Mercedes Boss, Toto Wolff, has put forward his plan for the upcoming weeks. The struggling Silver outfit is waiting for a turnaround, as they have yet to win a grand prix since 2022. Moreover, the team leader feels there is no space for a ‘miracle’ as only persistent efforts could take them out of this slump.
Mercedes In ‘No Man’s Land’ As The Struggle Continues
As the Imola GP is over, the teams will go back and contemplate their performance. Meanwhile, Mercedes, which is enduring a rough season, shared mixed feelings after the Sunday race. George Russell was excited about the improvements of W15, as it was ‘the best’ compared to other races. On the other hand, his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, feels the team is in ‘no man’s land’ as they lack by two or three-tenths. Further, he believed small yet consistent developments could propel them to the front spot. The team boss shared a similar opinion on the ongoing technical chaos.
Wolff, after the Emilia Romagna GP, explained the technical team’s vision. He feels the ‘incremental gains’ have helped them improve. Further, the team isn’t expecting any overnight ‘miracle. ‘ Instead, the focus is on striking the correct balance and improving overall performance. Earlier, the technical head, James Allison, made a similar remark regarding the team’s progress. He feels the current situation is like a “moving conveyor belt” since every team brings upgrades. It’s a race off the circuit to be just a bit faster than the competition. While not revolutionary, these small changes will enhance their drivers’ chances of getting closer to pole position. Allison further elaborated on the challenges faced by the W15, comparing it to a “duvet” that’s slightly too small, as the car encounters different issues at each event.
George Russell Sacrificed P6 Finish For One Extra Point
The team pitted George Russell as a forecast predicted he wouldn’t be able to finish the race with those tires. However, this was due to getting one extra point, as Sergio Perez of Red Bull was lagging behind. The Mercedes team wanted to set the fastest lap and earn one additional point. However, Russell was displeased about giving up his P6 finish to Hamilton.
On the other hand, Toto Wolff explained the strategy for pitting George Russell. The forecasts weren’t in his favor; thus, he was called to the pit. Moreover, Wolff believes Hamilton would have secured sixth place even if Russell had not gone off track.
