Toto Wolff has conceded he is "always a bit worried" about progress at Mercedes in the current ground-effect era, despite recent improvements. The 52-year-old alluded to the false dawns the team has experienced since the F1 regulations last changed, in 2022, adding that having been "carried away" things now appear to be "falling into place" for the eight-time constructors' champions. Whilst it was not the start to the season Mercedes would have hoped for, following a change in car philosophy over the winter, things appear to be turning around for the Brackley-based outfit. Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell looked much more competitive in Monaco, and both were able to take that form into the Canadian Grand Prix. However, Wolff was keen to highlight that future performance on track will determine if the current "positive trajectory" is ultimately correct. "I am always a bit worried," he replied to media including RacingNews365 when asked if this the most confident he has been since the start of 2022 that the team is on the right track. "When you've been carried away, that everything seems to be now falling into place, because this is a difficult sport. "And we've had this positive trajectory now since the last three races and everything seems to be making much more sense. So, the stopwatch will tell us.
Mercedes upgrades in Barcelona confirmed
Following showing strong one lap pace in Monaco and capitalising on those gains in Montreal, in some part due to updates including a new front wing, there is reason to be optimistic. Russell took the team's first pole and grand prix podium of the season at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and Hamilton finished just behind in fourth - their best combined result of the season. For Wolff, this is a continuation down the same path the team has been on since Imola, as it claws away at the performance gap to Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari ahead. "I think definitely since Imola we've taken the right steps and put parts on the car that we're watching. That is something that we were struggling [with] in the past couple of years," he explained before confirming further upgrades at the next round, the Spanish Grand Prix, which he hopes will further extend the development path. "And now, directionally, we seem to be adding performance every weekend, and with new stuff coming also, new parts coming in Barcelona, that should help us. So, I would very much hope that we can continue this positive trajectory."
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