Lewis Hamilton, fresh off an emotional win at the British Grand Prix, has more reasons to celebrate as Mercedes prepares to introduce two major upgrades before the F1 summer break.
Mercedes is riding high after Lewis Hamilton’s dramatic victory at Silverstone, marking his 104th grand prix win and his ninth on home turf. The win, achieved under mixed weather conditions, saw Hamilton outmaneuvering Max Verstappen and was a testament to Mercedes’ recent development successes. This victory comes on the heels of George Russell’s win in Austria, which was marred by a high-profile clash between Verstappen and Lando Norris.
Team Principal Toto Wolff confirmed that Mercedes is set to roll out significant upgrades in Budapest and Spa. This decision follows intensive development that has finally shown promising results on the track. “There’s more to come in terms of performance,” Wolff stated. He assured fans that Mercedes is not getting carried away, but is determined to maintain its competitive edge.
Wolff expressed pride in the team’s ability to translate development efforts into lap time improvements. He shared, “Five races ago, we weren’t even a contender for the podium. Suddenly, everything clicked.” The upgrades have not only boosted performance but also morale, leading to what Wolff described as a “fairytale” victory for Hamilton at Silverstone.
The race itself was a nail-biter, with Hamilton taking the lead in the final stint after a botched pitstop for Norris. Despite having less durable soft tires, Hamilton managed to fend off Verstappen, who was on more durable hard tires. Wolff explained that the team had no medium tires left, making the strategy straightforward but risky. The choice paid off as Mercedes’ superior tire management secured the win.
Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s Race Engineer, celebrated the win as a validation of the team’s hard work. Wolff also highlighted the emotional significance of Hamilton’s victory at Silverstone, especially as the driver is set to move to Ferrari in 2025. “To make Lewis win the British Grand Prix again in his last race for Mercedes here is almost like a little fairytale; we couldn’t have scripted it better,” he said.
The upgrades coming to Budapest and Spa are eagerly anticipated by fans and pundits alike. Mercedes has demonstrated that their development trajectory is back on track, and the team is optimistic about maintaining their winning streak. The focus now is on ensuring that the new parts perform as expected, keeping Mercedes in the fight for the championship.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming races, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see if these upgrades can maintain their winning momentum. Hamilton and Russell’s recent success has reignited hope and excitement within the team and among fans, promising an exhilarating end to the season before the summer break.
Source: Motorsport
