Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen engage in a thrilling side-by-side race at the Silverstone circuit.
Red Bull and McLaren have received a potential boost ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix with Toto Wolff conceding the Mercedes W15 is not yet capable of winning every race.
Having gone almost two years without a race victory, Mercedes have returned to the winners’ circle over recent weeks with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton triumphing in Austria and Britain respectively.
Toto Wolff: Mercedes W15 can’t challenge Red Bull, McLaren at every race
Mercedes has achieved consecutive race victories for the first time since the final stages of the 2021 season. During that period, Hamilton claimed three consecutive wins in Brazil, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for a thrilling final race against Max Verstappen.
In spite of facing significant challenges due to the ground-effect regulations implemented in 2022, Mercedes has managed to secure pole position in the past two Hungarian GPs. In 2022, Russell claimed pole position, followed by Hamilton in 2023.
Despite believing that Mercedes now has “momentum” ahead of the Hungary/Belgium double-header, Wolff, the team boss with a long tenure, remains convinced that the W15 is still not fast enough to challenge for victory at all tracks.
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However, he has also emphasized that the team’s efforts to narrow the distance to Red Bull and McLaren will persist, with upgrades being introduced until the summer break.
He stated, “We approach the upcoming double header with momentum.”
In recent races, our progress with the W15 has been consistently remarkable. As a result, we have achieved standout outcomes in Austria and Silverstone, which have garnered significant attention.
Nevertheless, we acknowledge that our current vehicle is not yet capable of competing for triumphs on a consistent basis.
“The team is diligently striving to introduce additional performance measures, which we anticipate will aid us in achieving our goals. These endeavours will persist throughout the next two races and up until the shutdown period.”
After claiming that Verstappen, the current three-time World Champion, should not contemplate switching to Mercedes until they can demonstrate themselves as a compelling option compared to his current team, Red Bull, Wolff’s remarks follow due to the Silver Arrows’ continued inadequacy on track.
Mercedes is currently in the process of finding a replacement for Hamilton, as the seven-time World Champion recently revealed his plans to join Ferrari on a multi-year contract starting in F1 2025. Toto Wolff, who has expressed his admiration for Verstappen, has stated that he would be delighted to have him as Hamilton’s successor.
In an interview with media outlets such as PlanetF1.com, he stated, “Currently, in order to emerge victorious, we rely on two individuals colliding at the forefront.”
I believe it’s necessary for us to introspect and ask ourselves, “How can we enhance our car’s performance to consistently compete with the leading contenders in races?”
“And I believe that this is a pivotal moment where we proudly declare ourselves as the ultimate hub or sanctuary for exceptional drivers, such as Max.”
However, since we haven’t reached that point, I wouldn’t be contemplating such a decision if I were in his position. Not yet.
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