George Russell (GBR) from Mercedes AMG F1 W15. 09.06.2024. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 9, Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, Canada, Race Day.
The head of Mercedes, Toto Wolff, is unsure if Red Bull has regressed compared to its Formula 1 competitors, despite acknowledging that the gap at the top has decreased.
Red Bull’s dominance under the current ground effect regulations has persisted in the past season, with Max Verstappen easily securing four out of five victories.
However, Verstappen and Red Bull have been defeated in two of the last four races, with their wins 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 the curbs, making the team more susceptible to challenges.
James Allison, technical director of Mercedes, suggested that Red Bull’s upgrades may actually be downgrades, a statement that Christian Horner has refuted twice.
While Wolff has not explicitly agreed with Allison’s comments, he sees the positive aspect of 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 maybe not us.
“I am uncertain if Red Bull has taken a step back. The crucial point is that the gap is decreasing.”
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.
“Spero che le prestazioni in Canada non dipendano solo dalla pista”, ha aggiunto. “Montreal è un’eccezione con la sua velocità di curva media e cambi di direzione.
“Nel complesso, i piloti hanno espresso che la macchina è ora in uno stato in cui possono spingere, hanno più fiducia e tutto viene in modo più naturale.”
Nel frattempo, Wolff prevede che la Red Bull recupererà la sua forma completa nel prossimo Gran Premio di Spagna, che crede servirà come un test completo a causa delle sue curve variabili.
“Forse Barcellona sarà interessante per vedere se si presentano bene lì”, ha previsto.
“L’Austria è il loro territorio. La McLaren è stata forte lì l’anno scorso durante il suo ritorno. Questa è sempre una gara impegnativa per noi.
“Non possiamo sottovalutare Max e le Red Bull; sono ancora il riferimento, in cima.”
“Ma la McLaren ha fatto progressi significativi, e non possiamo dimenticare la Ferrari. Non sono stati prominenti in Canada, ma due settimane fa a Monaco, erano la squadra da battere.
“Ora abbiamo quattro squadre competitive.”
