Wolff worried by repeated 'open heart surgery' performed on W10

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Mercedes has enjoyed a flawless reliability record so far this season on race day, but recent issues that required some big interventions did not escape Toto Wolff's attention.

The Silver Arrows outfit's 100 percent winning track record in 2019 is first and foremost rooted in the outstanding endurance of its W10.

However, a hydraulic leak in Canada discovered after qualifying on Lewis Hamilton's car and a sensor issue on the Brit's W10 detected in free practice in France offered a clear reminder to Wolff that failure is perhaps just one small component away.

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In both instances, repair work forced Mercedes' crews to dig deep into their car's inner workings.

"Our result in last year's Austrian Grand Prix was the low point of the 2018 season," said the Mercedes boss ahead of next weekend's race in Spielberg.

"A double DNF after a promising front-row lockout meant that we left a lot of points on the table.

The race was a cruel reminder how quickly things can go wrong in our sport and that reliability and performance go hand in hand in Formula One.

"This year, our race finishing record has been good, but it would be complacent to ignore the fact that for two weekends in a row now, our mechanics had to perform the equivalent of "open-heart surgery" on our cars.

"We've faced a number of different issues on different components, each of which could have easily caused us to retire, so we need to get on top of those challenges as quickly as possible."

©Mercedes

Mercedes will work to keep its reliability in check in Austria but Wolff also points to next weekend's predicted high temperatures as a potential source of concern.

"The forecast for Austria predicts temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and more - combined with the reduced air density owing to the track's location at altitude, this means that cooling could become a real challenge in Spielberg.

"Add to that the short lap and the close gaps on that circuit and our direction is clear: we need to keep working diligently, stay humble and give it everything to do a better job than we managed 12 months ago."

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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.