Mercedes wanted competition, and this time, they’ve got it. With Red Bull pushing the Silver Arrows to the limit, there was a conversation about the pace of the car. For Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, the Styrian Grand Prix marked four races without a victory- making it their worst run since the advent of the turbo-hybrid era.
The W12 was put under the microscope after the race. Hamilton was concerned about the 10-second gap that Verstappen maintained before his late stop on the penultimate lap.
As a result, he too believed that it was time for an upgrade. However, when asked about the prospects for an upgrade, Hamilton denied knowing anything about it.
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Recently, James Alison, Mercedes’ technical engineer, confirmed they had new ambitions for the W12. Also, at today’s FIA conference, Hamilton ascertained the same saying, “I always knew we had that upgrade coming… we’re learning more and more about the car.”
Mercedes’ monster machine
Earlier this week, team principal Toto Wolff mentioned stopping any further upgrades to the w12 and focussing on the 2022 car. With new FIA regulations, including the price caps, it may be a good idea for teams to plan ahead.
Red Bull is constantly improving with every race and it may not be the best idea for Mercedes to give up on their current car. With the ongoing championship battle, Mercedes will look to push ahead, instead of slowing down.
James Alison has since clarified the situation. He has revealed that there will be changes made to the current package. He hints at improvements in aerodynamic performance and promises to optimize the machine.
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“Can’t get tied up,” says Hamilton
The news about an upgrade may have come as a breath of fresh air to Hamilton. He claims to be unabashed by the championship standings, saying,
“I can’t get tied up and get into that negative bubble of worrying. All I can do right now is put all that energy into making sure that I’m best prepared, helping the engineers be better prepared, lots of great conversations.”
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He adds, “This is the time when we just come together and unite and worked as hard as we can to rectify whatever issues we have. That’s what we do, that’s why we’re the world champions and I have confidence in the team that we can do that.”
It’s no secret that Red Bull has got Mercedes sweating and on the edge. With every race proving to be quicker and better than the last, RBR may end the triple header with another win.
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The upgrades Mercedes has planned may help them ease up a bit, but that’s not to say that Red Bull will not push harder. It’s clear to see both teams, along with their drivers, are thirsty for that Championship trophy and will fight till the end.
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