Mercedes only has three grands prix left if it wants to break its win drought and avoid having to close the year without a win, something that had not happened since 2011.
The team did not finish adapting to the new regulations , and had problems standing up to Red Bull Racing and Ferrari in the first part of the season. However, it seems to have found speed once the summer break is over.
Lewis Hamilton narrowly missed the long-awaited first place at the last United States Grand Prix, where he finished second, just over five seconds behind Max Verstappen.
One of the biggest problems in dealing with the already 2022 world champion was the lack of top speed compared to Red Bull , one of the fastest cars on the grid for much of the season.
But with the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez located at 2,200 meters above sea level, the changes in the air will help the slower cars on the grid not be so much at a disadvantage in Mexico.
Looking ahead to the Mexican Grand Prix that will take place this weekend, Toto Wolff, director of the German team, said he had to “bite his tongue” not to make predictions, but he believes that they could have the potential to be ahead.
Asked about Mercedes’ chances in Mexico, team principal Wolff said he “would have to bite his tongue” and avoid making any predictions, but that the conditions should help Hamilton and team-mate George Russell’s chances. .
“There have been times this year where I predicted we might be quick at certain tracks, and then we haven’t, and vice versa,” Wolff said after the race in Austin.
“On paper, it looks like Mexico could come in handy. Our car should be effective,” he added.
Mercedes has only managed one victory in Mexico in the last five years , courtesy of Hamilton in 2019. The track tends to favor Red Bull more, given its high downforce, and Verstappen won the 2017, 2018 and 2021 editions.
Wolff, trying to explain Hamilton’s helplessness at COTA, said the W13 is “too slow”. “That’s something we have to figure out for next year,” he added.
“The budget cap is something that’s there. We can’t produce an infinite number of low-resistance bits, or spend a lot of time in the wind tunnel,” he lamented. “So it’s a pending task for next year.”
Do you want to read our news before anyone else and for free? Follow us here on our Telegram channel and you won’t miss a thing. All the information, at your fingertips!
