28/06/2016
NEWS STORY
One would think that with an 81 point advantage - enough to effectively hand away two 1-2s to Ferrari, Mercedes would be content.
However, team boss Toto Wolff is concerned that mistakes are costing the team. Indeed, the Brackley-based outfit has scored only two 1-2s of its own this season, having scored 5 by this point in 2015.
Ignoring the nightmare of Barcelona, Wolff says it is the smaller issues that are putting the team under unnecessary pressure.
"We didn't maximise our potential in Baku," he admits. "At some circuits, you seem to find the sweet spot straight from the beginning - and that track suited our car in terms of demands on the power unit and aerodynamic efficiency. So, we left a little disappointed.
"Overall there were a lot of positives," he adds. "Our package is clearly as competitive as ever and we have seen that both drivers are pushing right to the limit - sometimes even beyond it. This is what we want to see from them.
"It would be easy to get complacent or ease off the pedal after our recent success. But they are pushing themselves, each other and the team forward at every step. We accept that sometimes this will result in tough weekends - but it's good for all of us and good for the sport.
"Our priority is to eliminate the small errors which have cost points here and there. We need every weapon at our disposal operating at maximum capacity to fight off the opposition at the front, who are growing in number.
"Force India has been very strong recently, Williams are always quick in Spielberg and, of course, there is the constant threat from Ferrari and Red Bull... particularly at a home race for the latter."