Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff is hoping for a shift to cooler situations for subsequent weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix following the group’s struggles within the Hungarian warmth.
Mercedes’ two-race successful streak got here to an finish on the Hungaroring the place the scorching temperatures didn’t swimsuit the Brackley squad’s W15 and hindered the group’s efficiency relative to its McLaren and Purple Bull rivals.
Nevertheless, regardless of the red-hot challenges, Lewis Hamilton managed to safe a third-place podium end after a spirited drive and a fierce struggle with Max Verstappen that ended with a conflict between the 2 drivers on the first nook.
Finally, each males have been capable of carry their vehicles to the checkered flag, with Hamilton claiming his two hundredth podium in F1 whereas Verstappen completed fifth.
As for George Russell, after beginning a lowly P17 following a messy qualifying on Saturday, the Briton ran a protracted opening stint earlier than being undercut by Sergio Perez within the Purple Bull in the course of the second spherical of pit stops.
This finally relegated him to an eighth-place end on the checkered flag.
“I feel these situations usually are not for us,” Wolff informed Sky F1 after the race.
“It’s scorching and ending on the rostrum in third you might want to see as successful, though with the opposite automotive too many issues went flawed yesterday to have a greater place.”
Whereas McLaren feared a possible undercut by Hamilton on Lando Norris within the second half of the race, Wolff clarified his group’s technique.
“Ah no, I feel the McLarens have been just about out of vary,” Wolff mentioned.
“We in all probability overstretched the tyre an excessive amount of of Lewis within the second stint and it fell off in the long run, so plenty of studying in any case. However congratulations to McLaren, they deserved first and second. It’s been overdue for a short time.”
Lastly, queried on the group orders controversy that swamped McLaren, Wolff appeared empathetic given the complications that recurrently seized Mercedes strategists previously.
“We’ve been there,” acknowledged Wolff with a smile.
With Spa-Francorchamps and its trademark altering situations on the horizon, Wolff mentioned that he was “Hoping for a freezing Belgium,” he joked, highlighting the essential function climate may play of their efficiency.
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