Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the team expected much more from qualifying if it took place on a dry track
Mercedes wanted more. The chief executive officer and team manager, Toto Wolff, admitted that the expectation was for more than just fifth and eighth places on the starting grid for the British GP if qualifying this Saturday (2) took place on a dry track. According to Wolff, Mercedes even believed it could fight for the pole position and, therefore, is disappointed.
Wolff pointed out that race simulations indicate that Mercedes is in a position to at least trouble Ferrari and Red Bull at Silverstone on Sunday, but that the fight could have started on Saturday. Even on the wet track, but both Lewis Hamilton - who leaves in fifth - and George Russell - in eighth - had problems at the end of Q3.
"We felt that the step forward we took on the dry track in TL3 was very good and that we could be in qualifying contention. The rain came and we even drove well on the day, setting competitive laps as the rain came and went, but in Q3 the last laps didn't come. George locked up the tires on the penultimate lap and Lewis had trouble with the brake temperature and lost time with the tire temperature," he explained.
"So it's disappointing to only get fifth and eighth places and not to have extracted the full potential of the team. The good side is that we had very strong race simulations yesterday and have improved the car since then. Race pace is what matters around here," he continued.
"I'm looking forward to seeing everything unfold tomorrow in front of this fantastic crowd and the full house," he finished.
The Grand Prix follows LIVE and IN REAL TIME all the activities of the British GP weekend. On Sunday, the start is scheduled for 11am (GMT-3).