Toto Wolff finds himself immersed in concern as the possibility of Mercedes succumbing to a resounding defeat by McLaren at the upcoming British Grand Prix looms large.
McLaren, fueled by their impressive outing at the Red Bull Ring, arrived at Silverstone armed with their enhanced MCL60, and sporting a fresh livery as well. Their strategic move bore fruit during the qualifying session.
In an exhilarating display of skill and determination, Lando Norris came tantalizingly close to claiming the coveted pole position at his cherished home event. Alas, his hopes were dashed when Max Verstappen swooped in and snatched.
Securing a remarkable position within the top three was none other than Oscar Piastri, the talented Australian driver and teammate of Lando Norris. Displaying his sheer prowess, the rookie driver left an indelible mark on the track, effortlessly navigating his upgraded MCL60 to claim a well-deserved spot among the elite contenders.
In stark contrast, Mercedes found themselves settling for sixth and seventh positions, trailing behind the impressive duo of Ferrari drivers. Toto Wolff couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction with such an outcome on his drivers’ home turf.
“I think we did OK. It’s all so tiny (margins). We are competitive in terms of lap times for what we expected, the question is how much pace differential we need to overtake because there are a few cars ahead of us,” said the Austrian in an interview with Sky Sports.
“McLaren have taken a massive step clearly so we need to see if that consolidates. They are a force to be reckoned with now.”
Despite lacking the blistering speed seen during qualifying, Mercedes can find solace in their respectable race pace showcased during Friday’s practice sessions. It is through these encouraging signs that they can draw motivation and optimism.
In their quest to improve their performance, reserve driver Mick Schumacher invested considerable hours well into the night, diligently fine-tuning the setup in the simulator.
The arduous endeavour bore fruit as it appeared to steer them in the right direction, a testament to their commitment to improvement.
