Mercedes aims for strong Singapore showing after Baku podium
Toto Wolff has his sights set on another strong weekend for Mercedes in Singapore, following George Russell‘s impressive second-place finish in Azerbaijan.
“After a solid weekend in Azerbaijan, we head to Singapore and another street race. Whilst Baku and Marina Bay share that characteristic, the challenge of each is very different,” said the Mercedes team boss.
The Singapore track presents a completely different challenge than what the drivers faced in Baku.
“The circuit in Singapore is a tighter, more technical one compared to the higher-speed layout in Azerbaijan. Perhaps the biggest difference though are the conditions.”
Even though they race at night, drivers still face brutal conditions in Singapore.
“Despite racing at night, the heat and humidity of Singapore place a high demand on both the car and the drivers. Managing and optimizing for that is a key requirement of the weekend.”
The recent results have given Mercedes a significant boost in the championship standings.
Ferrari’s disappointing showing in Baku, combined with Russell’s podium finish, has pushed Mercedes back into second place in the Constructors’ Championship. They’re now McLaren’s closest challenger, though McLaren could clinch the title this weekend with a strong performance.
Wolff acknowledges the fierce competition they’re facing.
“Whilst we were pleased to return to the podium last time out, and move back into second in the Constructors’ Championship, we know how competitive the field is at present,” he admitted.
The team has a clear goal for Singapore and beyond.
“We need to ensure we deliver at our maximum each weekend if we are to fight for further positive results and maintain that position in the standings. That’s our focus for Singapore and the following six races as we approach the end of the season.”
Russell ready for Marina Bay challenge
George Russell has also shared his thoughts on the upcoming race, noting how the different characteristics of the remaining circuits could really help or hurt Mercedes’ performance through the end of the season.
The British driver highlighted just how tight the competition is right now. A few tenths of a second can completely shake up the running order from race to race.
Can Mercedes maintain their momentum and hold onto that crucial second place in the championship? The Singapore night race should give us some answers.
