Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff confirmed the team is working on two upgrade packages before the summer break, including a large package for the 2023 British Grand Prix.
The team took a giant step forward with their upgrade ahead of the Monaco GP, and have recorded three podiums since – including Lewis Hamilton‘s third place at the Canadian GP, where Wolff was talking.
However, Wolff hinted their Silverstone upgrade could be even bigger, while adding they’ll also look to bring another step in development to either the Hungarian or Belgian GPs, before the summer shutdown.
“Yeah, we’re bringing a larger one to Silverstone,” Wolff told the media after the 2023 Canadian GP. “And then we should have another one before shutdown.
“It’s just that the learnings have accelerated a lot since we changed some of the conceptual architecture. There should be decent steps coming in the next four races.”
Mercedes brought a minor change to their sidepod to Montreal, but the packages Wolff talked about should bring more major changes after Mercedes have drawn level with Aston Martin and closer to Red Bull following their Monaco upgrade.
Despite the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve being a track Mercedes expected to struggle at, with its long straights and mostly slow-speed corners, Hamilton was comfortably in the podium positions all race and even challenged Fernando Alonso for second at the end of the race.
“For us we didn’t expect to perform in Canada because of the car’s DNA at the moment, so it’s encouraging to be not so far away,” Wolff added. “But one must not forget Max is still having an easier time in the front, not cruising but still I think there is margin. So there’s quite the gain to catch up”
Wolff explains Russell’s Canada retirement
While Hamilton collected his third trophy of the season, George Russell had a more difficult race as he clouted the wall with his rear left chasing Alonso eventually retired despite fighting his way back into the top 10.
“Well oxidation metrics were high on both cars,” Wolff said. “But after he hit the wall, interestingly the oxidation metrics went dramatically up on the left and so we retired the car.”
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Hamilton either, as the seven-time champion still struggled with the rear-end setup of the car and wasn’t able to lay a sustained challenge at Fernando Alonso.
Wolff added: “That was the problem of the car all along since we started last year. We have a strong front but the rear’s still trailing and still not good enough and we’ve seen that today particularly out of the low speed we lacked that traction and stability.”
