Mercedes must keep ‘both feet on the ground’, warns Wolff

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Toto Wolff has urged his Mercedes F1 team to maintain a grounded approach despite their recent winning resurgence.

While acknowledging the positive trajectory of the Brackley-based outfit, Wolff is wary of making lofty predictions for the remainder of the season.

Having struggled since the advent of Formula 1’s ground-effect regulations in 2022, Mercedes fielded an all-new car at the start of 2024, a design embedded with the many lessons garnered from the team’s painful two-year period of underperformance.

Nevertheless, strong results were hard to come by from the outset, leaving pundits with the impression that Mercedes’ difficulties were far from over.

While the squad’s W15 silver arrow showed flashes of potential, it would require further refinement and development to consistently challenge the frontrunners.

Read also: Hamilton expecting thrilling close finish to 2024

The team scored its first podium in Canada, courtesy of George Russell’s run to third, which kick started a remarkable turnaround for Mercedes.

Three victories in the last four races, including two for Lewis Hamilton, have reignited hopes of a title challenge. However, Wolff remains cautious.

"I think we need to remain both feet on the ground," the Austrian told the media last weekend in Spa. "The swings of performance, you see a trend, definitely that’s positive on our side.

“With some other teams, you see a negative trend, but I don’t think we should really pre-empt how the second half of the season is gonna go."

Red Bull’s dominance from the outset of the season, spearheaded by Max Verstappen, has been eroded by the rapid development of their rivals.

McLaren and Mercedes, in particular, have made significant strides, with the former closing the gap to the championship leaders to just 42 points.

Wolff is under no illusions about the intensity of the battle ahead.

“I think it’s a tough fight. There’re four teams ahead, that keep giving it everything,” he added.

“So, I think we can be carefully optimistic. But, we gotta prove it - there’s 10 races to go."

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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.