25/08/2021
NEWS STORY
Ahead of the second half of the season, Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff admits that 2020 is one of the most intense seasons he can remember.
First lap incidents at Silverstone and the Hungaroring have effectively turned the championship battles on their head, the pitiful 5 points that Red Bull picked up over the course of those two weekends allowing Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to regain the upper hand.
"This has definitely been one of the most intense F1 seasons that I can remember, so far," says Toto Wolff ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix, the opening leg of the second of the season's triple-headers.
"The battle is far from over and after a few weeks away from the track, we're all really excited to get back to work," he adds. "The shutdown is such an important time for the entire team. The chance to relax and recharge is invaluable, especially with such a busy second half of the season coming up, and the fight we have ahead of us. We're all racers at heart though, so while we enjoyed the well-deserved time off, we're also eager to get back to doing what we love: racing!
"We head to Spa-Francorchamps in a good position. We lead both Championships and the W12 feels in a better place, after the upgrades introduced at Silverstone and an encouraging showing in Hungary. But we know there is a long road ahead and so much can still happen in this season of ups and downs.
"Spa is a track that we all know and love, one of the true F1 classics with its iconic corners, long-flat out sections and beautiful scenery. It's a hugely challenging track for both the drivers and the cars, with the longest lap of the season, lots of elevation change and some very high g-forces.
"The weather is also notoriously unpredictable at Spa and always throws a curveball our way. With the Belgian Grand Prix always producing exciting and fun racing, it's the perfect place to start the second half of the season. Bring it on!"