Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has suggested Mercedes' W14 "knife edge" operating window has led to it being nicknamed the "Diva 2.0". The Silver Arrows remains second in the Constructors' standings after a string of stronger performances since introducing a radical upgrade package at the Monaco Grand Prix. But the car remains difficult to work into an optimum working range, with the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint weekend an example of how Lewis Hamilton and George Russell can be put on the back foot by the machinery at hand. Mercedes is locked in a scintillating battle with Aston Martin and Ferrari for second in the Constructors' standings, with Max Verstappen and Red Bull's dominance the only factor denying a title fight for the ages. "In the early phases of the season it was all about Aston Martin leading the chase, but either they've been out-developed by other teams, or they have gone slightly the wrong way on their own developments, or a little of both, meaning that they've slipped back in the past two races," Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports F1 column. "Mercedes keep polishing up their reluctant car - now apparently called Diva 2.0 - and from time to time it has shown some blistering race pace. But 'knife edge' appears to be its resting place in terms of drivability. "Ferrari also effectively tickled the SF-23 and it performed well in Austria and would line up fourth and fifth on the grid in Silverstone."
'Let's get Max' party
McLaren has stunned the grid since providing its own upgrade package in Austria, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing second and fourth at Silverstone - the Australian rookie only denied a maiden podium by an ill-timed Safety Car. Williams and Alpine have also taken steps forward with their cars, leading to a constantly changing midfield order in F1. "Entering stage left after a promising Austrian GP was the newly-fettled McLaren which was plain fast around the scary and challenging corners of Silverstone in the hands of Norris as well as the impressive Piastri," added Brundle. "[You can] add to that the ability of Williams and Alpine to seriously threaten to join the 'let's get Max' party."
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