Toto Wolff admitted prior to the Hungarian Grand Prix, that his old rival Dr. Helmut Marko was correct about Mercedes’ Achilles heel being hot weather conditions. Having won in Austria and at Silverstone where the track and air temperatures were cool, Mercedes faced the race at the Budapest circuit with trepidation.

The team made a glaring error in qualifying as on a drying track they failed to fuel George Russell to run to the end of the Q1 session. Such was the track evolution that last over the line in Q1 was Daniel Ricciardo who in his V-CARB topped that sessions time sheets.

Hamilton too was on the cusp in the second qualy session before   becoming the meat in a Ferrari sandwich as he qualified fifth behind Charles Leclerc and ahead of Carlos Sainz. After a messy start Hamilton ran behind Verstappen as the pair commenced their battle for P3 which would run to the end of the Grand Prix.

 

 

 

Mercedes better than expected in Hungary

Russell starting in P17 fought his way through the field along with Sergio Perez, yet Red Bull engineered an undercut for their driver at final round of pit stops, something George failed to recover from finishing P8 behind the Mexican driver.

Despite his ageing tyres, Lewis held off a feisty attack from the world champion, although with seven laps remaining the pair came together in controversial fashion, with Max claiming Lewis had moved under breaking whilst Hamilton accused Verstappen of being out of control.

Running off the track allowed Charles Leclerc through past Verstappen, who then was challenged by pick up on his tyres for a lap or two before there Dutchman realised he didn’t have the pace to retake the position from the Ferrari driver. Yet given the circumstances, a P3 for Hamilton and P8 for Russell were better than expected results. 

The temperatures were higher than at the two previous events, yet the Mercedes car performed well against Verstappen who spent the entire race battling with understeer. Even so Toto Wolff blamed the heat telling Sky F1 after the chequered flag, “I think these conditions are not for us.

Red Bull move to secure Max but with Sainz in the frame

 

 

 

Wolff says Hamilton undercut was never on

“It’s hot, and finishing on the podium in third you need to see as a success, although with the other car too many things went wrong yesterday to have a better position.”

McLaren were concerned at the final round of pit stops that Mercedes had planned the undercut for Lewis Hamilton to overtake Lando Norris. So they pitted the British driver ahead of Piastri which is outside normal protocol as the race leader is usually given the first service.

When asked whether this had been Mercedes plan, Wolff denied this had been the team’s design stating: “Ah no, I think the McLarens were pretty much out of range.

“We probably overstretched the tyre too much of Lewis in the second stint and it fell off in the end, so lots of learning in any case. But congratulations to McLaren, they deserved first and second. It’s been overdue for a little while.”

FIA investigating ‘cheating’ team’s front wing

 

 

 

Mercedes boss sympathetic over team orders fiasco

Hamilton finished the Grand Prix just under fifteen seconds behind winner Oscar Piastri, although had McLaren not issued team orders the gap to Norris sat around 20 seconds before he was told to slow and let Oscar through. This lack of pace was due to the warm track conditions and while at the front a battle royal was being fought out.

Having pitted Lando first at the final round of stops, McLaren handed him the lead as Piastri continued for another two laps. The team from Woking clearly realised their two cars would be on the same piece of tarmac if Oscar came in the lap after Norris, choosing to let him circulate again thus creating a gap between the drivers.

Team orders were then issued to Norris to relinquish his position to his team mate which created much debate, something Toto Wolff has experienced in the past. “We’ve been there,” said Toto clearly reflecting on the days when Rosberg and Hamilton were battling it out.

And so to this weekend, Wolff is “hoping for a freezing Belgium”  as in cooler conditions the W15 performs better. Currently the forecast for Spa Francochamps will not bring the Mercedes boss much cheer, with ambient temperatures on Friday predicted around 23 degrees celsius and with just 0.8mm of rain forecast, Hamilton and Russell will struggle to find a good balance in practice for the remainder of the weekend.

Vowles reveals Ocon deal done

 

 

 

Weather coming to Mercedes in Spa

Saturday looks more promising for the silver arrows with cloud and rain on there radar and a high of just 20 degrees. Race day too will be cooler, but the chance of rain for the entire day stands at just 2% (according to Acu Weather).

In Hungary Toto Wolff gave an update on his thinking over Lewis Hamilton’s replacement

Toto Wolff provided further information on his thinking with regards to the Lewis Hamilton’s soon-to-be vacant seat at Mercedes. Of course Kimi Antonelli is in the frame and particularly following his F2 win in the feature race at the Hungaroring. Yet Toto decided to big up other drivers in the Mercedes camp.

“When it comes to Fred [Frederik Vesti], he’s done the job, but there’s just no opportunity in Formula 1 at the moment,” the Mercedes team principal told assembled media.

Marko defends Verstappen rage as Dutchman makes demands on the team

 

 

 

Schumacher “deserves a seat”

“And he will be a professional racing driver that drives on a high level, whether it’s endurance or elsewhere – and he’s a top guy on top of that.”

Wolff appears to suggest there will be no room at the F1 inn for Vesti, though as far as Mick Schumacher is concerned that may not be the case.

“I couldn’t say a bad word about Mick [Schumacher], either. Both of them are doing a great job for the team, keep supporting us in the simulator,” Wolff revealed.

“They’re a little bit the unsung heroes, also, because you don’t see them, but they spent the nights from Friday to Saturday in the simulator doing that work. And Mick also deserves a seat, I really liked that we have him [as] part of the family.”

The Mercedes boss appears yet torn between making a “bold” move as he called it when announcing Hamilton’s departure and trying to find Antonelli a less high profile drive somewhere on the grid.

Hamilton SLAMS Verstappen attitude

 

 

 

Mercedes fill Hamilton seat in house

Carlos Sainz is presumably holding out to see Toto’s decision as it could be there’s a year on offer for the Spaniard to prove his worth alongside George Russell.

Yet the tea leaves and comments stating Mick Schumacher deserves a seat, may reflect Wolff is thinking of giving the German a one year deal, though this would be contingent and Antonelli finding and F1 seat elsewhere for 2025.

“[I will] take a decision on the drivers later in the year, when all the dust settles – what is best for Mercedes,” said Wolff when asked again about Verstappen.

“I can’t look too much left what’s happening in Red Bull… I want to concentrate on us, and us means Kimi [Andrea Kimi Antonelli] today in F2, and our two drivers in F1.”

Mercedes can fill Hamilton’s seat from in house, which is what Wolff appears to be suggesting in his latest update – unless of course Verstappen walks away from Red Bull.

Norris says he’ll “fight for the title”: The Maths

 

 

 

Lando Norris needs to “grow some balls

McLaren F1 conspired to sour their first 1-2 Formula One finish for the team since 2012, with poor race strategy and driver management. Oscar Piastri scored his maiden win in the sport although he later admitted the circumstances surrounding his victory were “not ideal.”

Having somewhat messed up the strategy last time out in Silverstone, McLaren appeared determined not to allow Lewis Hamilton the undercut on Norris as the Mercedes ran in P3 behind the leading McLaren duo.

This meant a change of protocol for the final round of pit stops, with the team chasing to stop Norris first to cover off Hamilton passing him on fresh rubber. McLaren then made the strange decision not to pit Oscar the following time around, forcing the young Australian to complete two full laps before he was given his final set pod tyres… READ MORE