George Russell (GBR) of Mercedes AMG F1 W15. 09.06.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 9, Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, Canada, Race Day.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is unsure if Red Bull has regressed compared to their Formula 1 competitors, despite acknowledging that the gap at the top has decreased.
Red Bull’s dominance under the current ground-effect regulations has continued into the last season, with Max Verstappen easily securing four out of five wins.
However, Verstappen and Red Bull have been defeated in two of the last four races, with their victories in Imola and Montreal being hard-fought battles.
The convergence of the grid this season has exposed Red Bull’s weaknesses, especially in terms of handling over the kerbs, making the team more susceptible to challenges.
James Allison, technical director of Mercedes, suggested that Red Bull’s upgrades may actually be downgrades, a claim that Christian Horner refuted twice.
While Wolff did not explicitly agree with Allison’s comments, he sees the positive aspect of the fierce competition at the front of the grid.
“The recent races have been more challenging for Red Bull,” Wolff said in an interview with Sky Sports F1. “I believe several teams have made significant progress.
“There were two or three teams that had a chance to win the race in Canada, although perhaps not us.
“I’m uncertain if Red Bull has taken a step back. The crucial point is that the gap is closing.”
Alongside Ferrari and McLaren, Mercedes has made significant progress in recent weeks, culminating in George Russell securing pole position and a podium finish in Canada.
However, despite the improved performance of the Mercedes W15 car, Wolff remains cautious about its adaptability on conventional circuits.
“I hope that the performance in Canada does not depend solely on the track,” he added. “Montreal is an exception with its average corner speed and change of direction.
“Overall, the drivers have expressed that the car is now in a state where they can push it, they have more confidence and everything comes more naturally.”
Meanwhile, Wolff predicts that Red Bull will regain their full form in the next Spanish Grand Prix, which he believes will serve as a comprehensive test due to its varied corners.
“Maybe Barcelona will be interesting to see if they perform well there,” he predicted.
“Austria is their territory. McLaren was strong there last year during their comeback. That is always a challenging race for us.
“We cannot underestimate Max and the Red Bulls; they are still the benchmark, up there.
“But McLaren has made significant progress, and we cannot forget about Ferrari. They were not prominent in Canada, but two weeks ago in Monaco, they were the team to beat.
“Now we have four competitive teams.”
