Toto Wolff is determined to see Mercedes head into the summer break with another positive result as its battle with Ferrari resumes in Hungary.

The German squad's dominance in the past few years was successfully challenged by Ferrari this season, as Mercedes' W09 chassis struggled with its tyres.

A difficult period handed the advantage to the Scuderia but the Silver Arrows has fought back, taking a resounding win at the last round at Silverstone.

"The first half of the season was a mixed one for us," Wolff said in the team's pre Hungarian GP preview.

"From the first test, it was clear we had a real fight on our hands with Ferrari - and soon we could see this might become one of the classic seasons.

"It was a bumpy start for us as we didn't quite find the right set-up window to make our car function.

"Then we had a bad weekend in Monaco - like always, you learn much more from your defeats than your victories.

"We used that learning in the right way and, from that point, we started to turn things around."

Wolff insists Mercedes' approach is a step-by-step process where the team focuses on each specific racewhile never losing track of the bigger picture.

"Our approach is to take it weekend by weekend, to build our performance at each circuit in a calm and logical way and to keep pushing.

"The time for worrying about the points will come later. What I see when I walk the corridors of our factories is an energy and determination like never before.

"It is inspiring to see how our team is tackling this championship battle."

While Mercedes is hoping to pick up in Hungary where it left off at Silverstone, Wolff says the team's performance at the British GP is in the rear-view mirror, with no complacency taken from Lewis Hamilton's dominant home win.

"So now we head to Budapest for the final race before the summer break," adds the Austrian.

"We enjoyed a fantastic weekend in Silverstone but it is now something nice in the history books. We have to do the job again beginning with first practice in Hungary.

"Our rivals will be determined to fight back strongly - and we have to anticipate that. There is no complacency at all at Mercedes, just a resolute determination to get the job done."

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

 

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Not a one-off: Hill sees multiple world titles for Norris

Damon Hill knows a thing or two about what it takes to climb Formula 1’s…

44 mins ago

Domenicali calls for calm and a plan as Ferrari eyes 2026 reset

Formula 1’s most polished powerbroker has seen this movie before – and Stefano Domenicali is…

2 hours ago

Verstappen puts Bathurst 1000 Supercar event on bucket list

Max Verstappen’s racing curiosity has never been confined to Formula 1 – and now, one…

3 hours ago

Vowles warns 2026 weight limit will catch F1 teams out

When F1’s radically redesigned 2026 cars finally roll out in Barcelona at the end of…

18 hours ago

Why Verstappen isn’t expecting much running at F1’s first test

Max Verstappen has never been one to sugar-coat reality – and as Formula 1 braces…

19 hours ago

Revolut’s CMO slams Ferrari: ‘How can you put blue on a red car?’

Ferrari have survived decades of criticism about strategy calls, driver politics and pit stops that…

21 hours ago