Mercedes has revealed it is “running on full steam” as it endeavours to bring upgrades on an unprecedented scale to build on winning Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The German marque’s turnaround this term reached a high point last weekend as George Russell took its first win since he was victorious in Brazil in November 2022.
Mercedes endured a tough start to 2024 as it was unable to match its rivals with an unpredictable W15 car which marked a complete departure from its predecessor.
However, an aggressive development plan has since elevated Mercedes back into contention as Russell’s second F1 win marked the team’s third consecutive podium.
But while he revelled in its drought coming to an end, Wolff acknowledged that Mercedes benefitted from Lando Norris and Max Verstappen’s dubious late-race clash.
With Russell having languished 13 seconds behind when the leading pair collided with seven laps remaining, Wolff admitted: “On pace, we were the third-quickest car.
“And we’ve been this way the last three weekends and that is very encouraging to see that upward trend and the consolidation of the trend.
“But racing happens on Sunday. Sometimes we’ve been on the receiving end and today we’ve benefited from the incident at the front.
“It’s just good to have that win in the pocket this year. It means there’s four teams that won races this year, and it’s been 2023 where we haven’t won a race since 2011.
“That is good to know and certainly big momentum now in the team to go to a point where we are able on real performance to fight for the win. And I think we will be.”
Wolff has commended the extensive work that’s been undertaken behind the scenes at the side’s Brackley base to put Mercedes back in a spot to compete at the top.
The Austrian has proclaimed the desire to introduce new parts at each round is something he’s not seen before and bolsters his hope Mercedes will bridge the deficit.
“I think we are bringing upgrades now almost to every race,” he disclosed. “The factory is running on full steam.
“We’ve never had this in 12 years that we were able to develop, design, manufacture, bring it to the track and have the quality in the pieces.
“I’ve seriously never seen that pace. Every single race we have brought upgrades.
“Every single race, we will bring upgrades and I hope by the summer break we can make another step. Now everyone else is working hard.
“But if we can eat a bit away at that gap. I think it was 15 seconds in 70 laps, so two-tenths [a lap]… and that’s okay. That’s a P3 and hopefully, if we can half it, we can race in front.”
