Mercedes are experiencing a very strong upward trajectory, with the W15 now established at the front. Major changes to the car’s aerodynamic platform have allowed the Silver Arrows to address their fundamental issues. This has allowed for the introduction of incremental updates in recent months, which have gradually pushed Mercedes up the field. In the hyper-competitive battle at the front, Toto Wolff sets his sights on Ferrari.
Mercedes perform in all conditions
Lewis Hamilton claimed a second consecutive podium finish at the Hungaroring, building on his victory at the British GP.
The 7-time Champion lacked the pace to challenge the McLaren duo, but was more than a match for the Ferraris – whilst capitalising on a scrappy weekend for Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
Although the W15 was not the fastest car in Budapest, it was still within a few tenths of fighting for the win.
At a circuit not usually suited to Toto Wolff’s team, this speed is significant. Not only was the track layout somewhat unfavourable, but track conditions also went against Mercedes.
The hot temperatures in Budapest put the W15 outside its ideal performance window, typically in cooler conditions.
Therefore, what Mercedes showed last weekend can be described as their minimum performance – which is certainly encouraging for the future.
Wolff: Third place is within range
Team principal Toto Wolff is aware that his team is in the ascendancy.
More upgrades are scheduled to arrive after the summer break, which should consolidate the W15’s status at the front.
With this knowledge, Wolff explains the state of play in the Constructors’ Championship:
“What we have to acknowledge is that McLaren are clearly now leading the field and by any conditions, it is a 1-2.
“That is the new benchmark,” he told the media last weekend.
“It’s difficult to put targets out because it swings a lot with upgrade to upgrade.
“But I think if you were to say what is a realistic-to-optimism [goal] today, it’s probably P3 in the championship.
“[It is] Difficult to catch Red Bull, and McLaren is now the benchmark. Therefore, I think that [P3] would be a good target. But it’s not easy.”
Mercedes can capitalise on rivals
One of the most encouraging developments for Mercedes is that, for the first time since 2022, the path ahead is clear.
The persistent problems created by their ‘zeropod’ concept are firmly in the past, whilst other teams are encountering difficulties in development.
Ferrari rushed one of their major upgrade packages, originally intended for Silverstone, to the Spanish GP. However, these modifications inadvertently generated bouncing on the SF-24 – creating an aerodynamic headache for Maranello’s engineers.
Meanwhile, Red Bull did not unlock the performance they anticipated from their latest updates.
In this environment, Mercedes can be optimistic about the remainder of the season. They still lack the peak downforce and resistance to variable conditions that are necessary to win races regularly.
However, they are most certainly contenders at the front.
