Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff is hoping for a shift to cooler conditions for next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix following the team’s struggles in the Hungarian heat.
Mercedes’ two-race winning streak came to an end at the Hungaroring where the scorching temperatures did not suit the Brackley squad’s W15 and hindered the team’s performance relative to its McLaren and Red Bull rivals.
However, despite the red-hot challenges, Lewis Hamilton managed to secure a third-place podium finish after a spirited drive and a fierce fight with Max Verstappen that ended with a clash between the two drivers at the first corner.
Ultimately, both men were able to carry their cars to the checkered flag, with Hamilton claiming his 200th podium in F1 while Verstappen finished fifth.
As for George Russell, after starting a lowly P17 following a messy qualifying on Saturday, the Briton ran a long opening stint before being undercut by Sergio Perez in the Red Bull during the second round of pit stops.
This ultimately relegated him to an eighth-place finish at the checkered flag.
“I think these conditions are not for us,” Wolff told Sky F1 after the race.
“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.”
While McLaren feared a potential undercut by Hamilton on Lando Norris in the second half of the race, Wolff clarified his team’s strategy.
“Ah no, I think the McLarens were pretty much out of range,” Wolff said.
“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.”
Finally, queried on the team orders controversy that swamped McLaren, Wolff seemed empathetic given the headaches that regularly seized Mercedes strategists in the past.
“We’ve been there,” acknowledged Wolff with a smile.
With Spa-Francorchamps and its trademark changing conditions on the horizon, Wolff said that he was “Hoping for a freezing Belgium,” he joked, highlighting the critical role weather could play in their performance.
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