Mercedes have had a tough couple of weeks at two circuits that proved to be unsuited to the W12 – in Monaco and Baku.
Team Principal Toto Wolff says with the intensity of the battle at the top of the field the team will have to find the utmost performance at each race as the season continues.
Wolff said on Thursday, the team will be “looking to turn our learnings from recent weeks into performance and to deliver a much stronger weekend with both cars.”
“We come off the back of two street circuits unsuited to our car, two circuits we knew would be difficult for us, and we were disappointed to lose a podium finish and a victory through our own mistakes,” he said.
“That frustration reflects the high standards we hold ourselves to, and it is what drives us forward.
“In Monaco and Baku, we put the W12 in a window where only one of our drivers found the confidence to unlock the performance of the car – Valtteri in Monaco and Lewis in Baku.
“In such a close, intense title fight, we need to deliver a car at each race which both our drivers can confidently push to its limits.”
Twisty, flowing and colourful… 🔵⚪🔴 We're back @PaulRicardTrack!@ValtteriBottas previews the #FrenchGP in this week's @PET_Motorsports Race Preview 👊
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 17, 2021
As we head to the more traditional Circuit Paul Ricard for the French Grand Prix, Wolff sounds confident about the potential for both Hamilton and Bottas at a track they have enjoyed in the past.
Hamilton has won been victorious at the last two outings at the Le Castellet track for Mercedes and will no doubt be fighting hard for a third this weekend.
“The French Grand Prix means returning to a more traditional circuit and hopefully, better fortunes for us,” Wolff said.
“It is a track we’ve gone well at in the past and, with a wide range of corner speeds that will test the car in every aspect, it’s an interesting challenge for us to tackle.
‘We’re six races into the season and there’s still a long way to go. It’s looking very close at the front and we’re not expecting that to change anytime soon.”
Proceedings kick off tomorrow morning (June 18) at 10:30 am Irish time.
