Toto Wolff says Mercedes heads to this week’s Dutch Grand Prix recharged after its summer break and ready to tackle the second half of the 2023 F1 season.
Mercedes concluded at Spa the first twelve races of its campaign second, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell delivering an aggregate 24 points to the Brackley squad, allowing the latter to consolidate its runner-up spot in F1 Constructors’ standings behind unassailable leader Red Bull.
Over the summer, thanks to its development programme, Mercedes was able to ramp up its performance. While it remains well adrift from Red Bull, the German outfit appears to hold a slight edge over its direct rivals Ferrari and Aston Martin.
“It's good to get back to work,” Wolff commented in the team’s Dutch Grand Prix preview.
“The summer break is important for everyone to take some well-deserved time off, but we're racers and we love the thrill of competition.
“We return recharged and ready for the second half of the season.”
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Mercedes holds a 51-point advantage over Aston in the championship, and defending that lead is among the team’s priorities.
But extracting more learnings from its W14 contender for the benefit of its 2024 car will be equally important in the back half of the year.
“There is plenty to fight for and we won't be letting up. We will push hard in the battle for second in the Constructors' Championship,” Wolff added.
“We will also be driving development forward for 2024. Those are challenges we are excited for, starting this weekend.
Championship leader Max Verstappen will be playing at home next weekend at Zandvoort and in front of a packed house.
But Wolff is delighted to see the action resume at the legendary Dutch venue.
“Zandvoort is a fantastic place to resume the season,” he added. “It's a challenging track with an old-school feel; banked corners and high-speed sections undulating through the dunes.
“There's always an incredible atmosphere with the passionate Dutch fans and it's always a fantastic celebration of our sport. I'm sure this year will be no different and I'm excited to get there.”
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