Mercedes is not taking things slow this season, especially with McLaren taking the lead.
- Currently sitting second in the Constructors’ standings, Mercedes is eyeballing McLaren’s performance.
- George Russell secures the third spot in the Drivers’ Championship, trailing Lando Norris by just a few points.
- Team Principal Toto Wolff admits Mercedes is behind McLaren in the speed department.
- Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, confirmed that the team is diligently working on upgrades for the W16.
Mercedes is gearing up for significant upgrades to their W16 model, spurred by McLaren’s strong performance in the early races of the season. After two rounds, Mercedes finds itself second in the Constructors’ standings while George Russell enjoys third place among drivers, only nine points behind current leader, Lando Norris.
Team Principal Toto Wolff acknowledged after the Chinese Grand Prix that Mercedes, although being the second-fastest team during the race, still lags behind McLaren in terms of outright pace. The observation in Shanghai has prompted swift action, and Mercedes has embarked on a mission to close the gap, particularly with an upcoming set of highly challenging races.
Andrew Shovlin expressed his views, indicating that the competition is fierce. “McLaren are probably the team to beat. Max is pretty quick. Ferrari certainly don’t look like they’re far behind and they’ve had a bit of bad luck in the last few races. So it’s a pretty tight fight at the front,” he explained. His comments highlight the competitive spirit in the paddock as teams vie for the top positions.
Mercedes is focusing on enhancing the W16’s performance across diverse tracks. With races lined up in varied circuits like Suzuka, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, there’s ample opportunity to see how the W16 measures up. Shovlin emphasized the excitement and challenge posed by these circuits, particularly for young driver Kimi Antonelli, who faces the daunting prospect of navigating Suzuka for the first time.
The team remains optimistic about competing for podiums, especially in familiar territories like Bahrain. But the road ahead is not devoid of challenges, as each circuit presents its own unique hurdles. As they tackle these circuits, the performance of the car will provide clearer insights into the competitive order this season. As Shovlin noted, there’s a thrill in starting a season with a car that the drivers find enjoyable and predictable to handle.
As the season progresses, Mercedes is pulling out all the stops to bridge the gap with McLaren and dominate the track.
