Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had a “off weekend,” so Toto Wolff provides Mercedes theory.
Toto Wolff expressed his confusion over Mercedes’ unexpected struggles during the Dutch Grand Prix, describing the team’s cars as “surprise boxes.” This marked a stark contrast from their performance just a few weeks earlier at Spa-Francorchamps, where they finished first and second before George Russell’s disqualification.
Mercedes had been optimistic heading into the second half of the season after their strong showing in Belgium. However, at Zandvoort, both Russell and Lewis Hamilton faced significant issues with tire degradation and grip, resulting in disappointing seventh and eighth-place finishes.
Wolff suggested that recent upgrades, particularly a new floor introduced at Zandvoort, might have contributed to the poor performance, though the team is still analyzing the data to identify the exact causes.
During the recent Dutch Grand Prix, Mercedes experienced a significant drop in performance, with both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell struggling to keep pace. Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, offered some insights into what might have gone wrong for the team over the weekend.
Wolff highlighted that Mercedes had introduced a new floor to the car, which they initially tested at Spa but then removed due to unsatisfactory performance. They reintroduced this floor at Zandvoort, but the limited practice sessions, disrupted by rain, meant the team couldn’t gather enough data to properly evaluate its impact. Wolff speculated that the new floor might have contributed to the poor performance, although he emphasized that the team is still investigating the issue.
The weekend’s poor showing was particularly surprising given Mercedes’ strong form in previous races, where they secured multiple podium finishes. Wolff described the situation as a “surprise box,” indicating that such a significant drop in performance wasn’t anticipated. Both drivers struggled with tire degradation and grip throughout the race, with Russell finishing seventh and Hamilton eighth, far below their expectations.
The team is now focusing on analyzing the data ahead of the upcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza, hoping to identify the root causes of their struggles and bounce back with a stronger performance.
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