Wolff delighted that Mercedes capitalized on unexpected opportunity
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff conceded that his outfit did not have the outright speed for victory, but he took delight in the Brackley-based squad’s ability of capitalizing on the unexpected opportunity.
Mercedes has been locked in a fight with Ferrari for the majority of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend with George Russell emerging as the fastest of the quartet.
The two teams were unable to keep up with the leading duo of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the opening stages of the race, but Russell was on course to take P3 in the race. However, with the leading duo came together on Lap 64 which enabled the Mercedes man to take over the lead and secure his second career victory.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff praised his team for the efforts that have made in recent weeks which allowed the Brackley-based team to close in on the field-leading Red Bull.
"It is a great feeling to get back on to the top step of the podium. It is a fantastic reward for the hard work and efforts of everyone at Brackley and Brixworth. We have taken good steps forward in recent races, and we are excited about what is still to come.
"We knew our outright pace today wouldn’t quite be enough to challenge for victory. We therefore made sure we maximised our race and were able to pick up the pieces, should anything happen. We enjoyed some good fortune but that is motor racing.
What. A. Day. Bring on Silverstone 👊 pic.twitter.com/IuRyELzQvT
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 30, 2024
Speaking of his drivers, Wolff was buoyed by the performance of George Russell while he also revealed that Lewis Hamilton picked up extensive damage to the floor and the sidepod of his car.
"George did a fantastic job throughout the race to keep himself within touching distance of the front two. It was a third place on pace, and we would have been pleased with that as it highlights the progress we continue to make.
"We did think there could be a chance for more though with the battle ahead and we were able to take advantage of that. Lewis, meanwhile, was unfortunate today. Firstly, that he had to give the position back to the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz and secondly, as he picked up floor damage which caused him a loss of performance. Nevertheless, he fought hard and drove a strong race to take a valuable P4.
"We now look forward to Silverstone next week. We are encouraged by our overall performance this weekend at a track that has not normally been a favourite for our cars. Our aim over the next few races is to continue to show progress and aim to get closer to the front," concluded Wolff.
