Mercedes workforce principal Toto Wolff says this workforce can take advantages from buyer workforce McLaren profitable back-to-back constructors’ championships, regardless of hos works workforce being crushed within the course of.
McLaren wrapped up its second consecutive title in Singapore, regardless of George Russell securing victory for Mercedes. That was simply Mercedes’ second win of the yr because it has been comfortably crushed by its buyer workforce over the previous two seasons, however Wolff says the McLaren instance proves the ability unit shouldn’t be an space of weak spot when his workforce appears to be like at efficiency deficits.
“I feel that such inner competitors has its benefits,” Wolff mentioned. “It avoids any dialogue whether or not the ability unit is among the root causes that the chassis is not so good. Are we placing an excessive amount of torque on the tires? Is the drivability of the engine good or not? And seeing a workforce run away with a championship like McLaren during the last two years is only a proof that it may be finished.
“In that manner, you have a look at the automotive and I feel it is simply superb engineering and executed in the correct manner. It is positively the benchmark of the final two or so years.”
The McLaren title got here on a weekend when Mercedes outperformed the constructors’ champions in Singapore, and heading right into a double-header that begins this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, Wolff is intrigued to see whethr Mercedes can keep the shape that helped it safe robust outcomes with each vehicles over the previous two rounds.
“We come off the again of a powerful lead to Singapore, taking victory with George and P5 for Kimi [Antonelli]. Not solely was that sudden, our stage of efficiency throughout Saturday and Sunday confirmed it was no fluke,” Wolff mentioned.
“That has been the story of the season considerably, the place it is not clear which workforce shall be main the way in which from weekend to weekend. We had been additionally good in Azerbaijan, so we’re curious to see if we will keep the step now we have made with the W16 into this subsequent run of races throughout the Americas.
“They’re very totally different layouts and challenges to these two road circuits, so we’re heading somewhat into the unknown, however that unpredictability is what makes our sport so pleasurable.”
Mercedes heads to COTA second within the constructors’ championship off the again of Russell’s win in Singapore, 27 factors away from Ferrari and 35 forward of Pink Bull within the battle for the runner-up spot.
