Mercedes topic to “swings in efficiency” as Toto Wollf guidelines out continued dominance

Mercedes staff boss Toto Wolff has cautioned that his squad is not getting forward of itself regardless of taking a snug win in Formulation 1’s Canadian Grand Prix on a sizzling observe floor.

Within the fingers of Russell the Mercedes W16 regarded like a contender for victory in Montreal from the primary lap of observe, and the Briton duly defeated Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen to pole with what he described as among the finest laps of his life, with McLaren’s championship chief Oscar Piastri additional behind in third.

Russell and Mercedes have been sturdy in Canada final yr too, when he took pole with an equivalent time to Verstappen however misplaced out on a win, so the uncooked efficiency did not come as a shock. However the Mercedes has a infamous tyre weak spot within the warmth, so when observe temperatures ramped up on Sunday the Brackley squad nonetheless wasn’t positive whether or not its driver may fend of challenges from behind.

However Russell appeared to regulate the race with ease, outperforming Crimson Bull on tyre administration and masking off Verstappen’s undercut try. In the meantime, Andrea Kimi Antonelli additionally delivered his greatest F1 efficiency but, passing Piastri to say his maiden grand prix podium.

Sturdy Canada kind was anticipated, however lasting in observe circumstances approaching 50 levels was not. One apparent connection appears to be Mercedes’ new rear suspension geometry, which was launched in Imola, then taken off the automotive amid correlation doubts and re-used in Montreal to assist maintain the tyres below management.

However with no such factor as a silver bullet at this superior stage of the rules, staff principal Wolff most well-liked to stay cautious over any form of sizzling climate breakthroughs.

“We had 50 levels of observe temperature, and we have been dominant,” Wolff mentioned. “We have had some issues altering on the automotive. We have now a brand new rear suspension. I am actually blissful how the staff has managed that, however I suppose it’s good to have a look at the observe structure.

“Montreal was at all times good to us. It lacks the standard high-speed corners the place we endure extra within the warmth. That is one. And quantity two is sort of a clean asphalt right here, which is much less abrasive and due to this fact much less damaging to our automotive, that suffers from rear tyre degradation and overheating.”

Montreal’s distinctive stop-start observe structure due to this fact means Mercedes will not get too assured over the remainder of the summer time races. Russell received in Austria final yr, albeit aided by the controversial conflict between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, however Mercedes was the third-quickest staff then.

“By no means assured,” Wolff mentioned. “As a result of the swings in efficiency are nonetheless there. We have seen it final yr that on some tracks it wasn’t even near who was second, however we dominated all through the weekend. And that is just a little bit the sample we’ve seen right here. And Austria goes to be a unique ball recreation, completely different observe structure, completely different challenges.

“We anticipated a bit extra tyre overheating contemplating the observe temperature, however we’re below no illusions that this actually suited the strengths of our automotive the identical means because it did final yr. However for almost all of the circuits, we all know it is a bit of a problem, and that is why that is the primary weekend each of us are on the rostrum. But it surely’s nice to see that once we get that probability, we take it.”

It does seem as if the up to date rear suspension from Imola does present a profit after being taken off the automotive in Monaco and Spain, and it now appears to be like right here to remain.

“We introduced the brand new rear geometry for that specific downside that we had, the rear floor overheating,” Wolff defined.

George Russell, Mercedes

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

“We weren’t fairly positive in regards to the ends in Imola, as a result of they have been worse than we anticipated. After which taking it off, I feel was the appropriate factor to do, and bringing it right here as a result of hopefully the event course is right.

“However in these sorts of rules, you by no means know whether or not you land improvement or not. Correlation has been troublesome, notably for us, however for a lot of different groups. There’s by no means one magic resolution that turns the automotive from a podium automotive to a dominant winner. However the extra datasets we’ve, the extra we be taught.”

Extra reporting Ben Hunt