Buoyed by Mercedes' strong results in the first half of the season, Toto Wolff is hoping the team can add Zandvoort to its list of successes at the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix, a circuit where the Brackley-based team has yet to win since its return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2021.
The W17 has undoubtedly been the strongest car on the grid so far this season, at times even proving dominant, with six victories from the opening 11 races. That tally could have been even higher without a number of reliability issues that have forced both drivers to retire from races.
Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes still has work to do despite its strong first half of the season. The team has missed opportunities to maximise its points haul, while its rivals have managed to close the performance gap, increasing the pressure heading into the remaining 12 races.
"We have left points on the table, our rivals have reduced the performance gap, and we know the second half of the year will demand more from us than the first."
The Mercedes team principal believes the outcome of the championships will largely depend on how effectively the team executes each weekend and how much performance it can extract through development. Although Mercedes is currently on a slightly different upgrade schedule compared to its rivals, Wolff remains confident that there is further potential to unlock from the car and that the team has a clear plan for its upcoming developments.
#team #first
The W17 has undoubtedly been the strongest car on the grid so far this season, at times even proving dominant, with six victories from the opening 11 races. That tally could have been even higher without a number of reliability issues that have forced both drivers to retire from races.
Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes still has work to do despite its strong first half of the season. The team has missed opportunities to maximise its points haul, while its rivals have managed to close the performance gap, increasing the pressure heading into the remaining 12 races.
"We have left points on the table, our rivals have reduced the performance gap, and we know the second half of the year will demand more from us than the first."
The Mercedes team principal believes the outcome of the championships will largely depend on how effectively the team executes each weekend and how much performance it can extract through development. Although Mercedes is currently on a slightly different upgrade schedule compared to its rivals, Wolff remains confident that there is further potential to unlock from the car and that the team has a clear plan for its upcoming developments.
#team #first
7 hours ago
