Following a forgettable race weekend in Austria for Mercedes, the German team now heads to the historic Silverstone. Team boss Toto Wolff reveals that his team used the race at the Red Bull Ring primarily to experiment with the set-up, and hopes for better performances during the Grand Prix in the ‘cooler’ England. ‘We want to deliver a performance at Silverstone that better fits the legendary history of Mercedes,’ says the Austrian.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had already warned ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend that fans should not expect a repeat of the success in Canada. As said, so done, as rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s race at the Red Bull Ring, following his first podium finish in Montreal, ended in the opening round. The young Italian collided with Max Verstappen, causing both drivers to be unable to finish their race. George Russell did cross the finish line in fifth place, but more than a minute later than race winner Lando Norris.
Wolff has ample reason to put the ‘tough Grand Prix’ in Austria behind him and focus on the British GP. “We deliberately experimented with the setup in Spielberg,” the Austrian reflects. “It was a useful test and we can learn from it this weekend, but ultimately it did not help our performance.” According to Wolff, Silverstone should suit the W16 better than the Red Bull Ring, especially as cooler conditions are forecasted.
Reflecting on History
This year, Formula 1 celebrates the 75th anniversary of the premier class, and Mercedes is also keen to commemorate the first official Formula 1 race at Silverstone. “Among other things, we are bringing a revised livery, with the orange of the recently launched CONCEPT AMG GT XX. This is the groundbreaking concept car that provides an impressive glimpse into the future of AMG. Although it will be an exciting weekend off the track with various activities, our full focus naturally remains on the circuit,” concludes Wolff. “We want to bounce back from last weekend and deliver a performance that better fits the legendary history of Mercedes.”
