Toto Wolff explained this weekend that the failure in Belgium, where Mercedes F1 was two seconds behind in qualifying, had enabled the team to learn many lessons. According to its director, the team did indeed benefit from it in Zandvoort, with the two drivers who were playing for the podium, even for victory, even if it is sometimes difficult to fully understand what is happening with the W13.
« It’s quite interesting because sometimes those super tough weekends like Spa give you the biggest clues » did he declare. “We were beaten heavily on Saturday at Spa and then we saw some light at the end of the tunnel on race day.
« But we understand better. We predicted it would be a much better race for us based on the lessons from Spa. And here we are, we had a competitive car in qualifying and a fast car in the race. »
« So the predictions were right and I think we need to move on. As we speak, it’s being looked at from a scientific perspective: What’s the right way forward, what does it mean for the concept of the car? But I’d rather be confusing and fast than slow and clear. »
Compromises that prevent you from fully exploiting the W13
At Zandvoort, Mercedes F1 again observed a performance at half mast on the fast sections, which confirmed the lessons of Spa-Francorchamps, where the W13 had suffered.
« We developed the car with a lot of downforce and a low ride height. And sometimes you can’t drive with a low ride height because you hit the ground, it’s that simple, and you have to compromise in your settings, which penalizes you. So you are never in the right window on the whole lap. »
« You can see here that we are very competitive in most of the corners, but in the high speed section of turn seven we are very lacking in performance against Ferrari and Verstappen. We know that, that’s where the car has a weakness and you can’t somehow balance it to make it work. »
“Obviously that’s not the case for our competitors. I have to say that Red Bull probably has the biggest advantage because Ferrari is a bit quicker on race day than in qualifying so far. »
The desire for a more regular single-seater… in 2023
However, Wolff expects an end to the season with ups and downs as the W13 issues remain unresolved. The Austrian predicts easier races than others, and the goal of having a more consistent car in 2023.
« Our performance is fundamentally rooted in the concept of the car as it is. But now, with a better understanding of how everything interacts, I think we can tune the car more precisely to suit it and target the performance window. »
“Having said that, there will be races that are better for us, like here, and there might be some on the calendar that will be very difficult. Austin is a race that we have discussed that could be very difficult.
« So you have to be realistic, in my opinion. We won’t be fighting for pole positions at all the other circuits, but at least we really have to get back to that point for next year. »
