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Wolff believes Mercedes have learned lesson: One-two was in reach

F1 travels to Spain this weekend as teams and drivers prepare for the second half of back-to-back events following the Portuguese Grand Prix last time out. Toto Wolff is excited as Mercedes look for further improvement after a first and third place finish in Portimao.

Toto Wolff thinks Mercedes have learned a thing or two heading into the Spanish Grand Prix after the team missed out on a one-two finish in Portugal. Lewis Hamilton took victory in Portimao with Valtteri Bottas recording his best finish of the season in third. The result helped the Silver Arrows extend their lead atop the constructors' standings over Red Bull, but Wolff believes the team missed out on more due to a sensor problem on the Finn's car. As a result he Austrian is keen to see Mercedes improve this weekend as F1 prepares for the first back-to-back races of the season. "Back-to-back events bring some added intensity to the calendar, and they also mean we don't have to wait long for the next dose of track action," Wolff stated in a press release. "That's an exciting prospect after another close race last weekend in Portugal. "We left Portimão with a strong double-podium and some important learnings to take forward, especially as a one-two finish was in reach without the sensor problem for Valtteri in the late stages. There's plenty of work still to do and the pecking order looks set to change from track to track, so we know we need to be on the top of our game each weekend. "It's going to be a neck and neck fight with Red Bull through the entire season and we're excited for that battle to continue in just a few days' time in Spain." This weekend will be the first time teams visit Spain, which usually hosts pre-season testing, however this year F1 switched the event to Bahrain. "Usually, we'd have already spent some time in Barcelona for winter testing, but that wasn't the case this year," Wolff added. "So, we're looking forward to being back at the track and seeing how we fare. "The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is a proper all-rounder, with a mix of corner types and straights, making it a true test for the car. It's a circuit where managing the rear tyres is key to strong performance, and that hasn't been our biggest strength so far this season. There have also been a few modifications to the layout for this year. So, we're intrigued to see how W12 performs there.

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