Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says his struggling team must "maximise every opportunity" at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in order to stay in the fight with the Red Bull and Ferrari cars ahead of them. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be hoping to get behind the wheel of a much-improved W13 machine for the race in Baku as they target a first win of the season. The team arrive at the windy Baku City Circuit after a disappointing weekend in Monaco, which followed a race in Spain at which fresh hope was instilled. "We head to Baku refreshed after a hectic Monaco weekend full of red flags, delays and changeable weather," Wolff said, looking ahead to the weekend. "We scored solid points, but more was possible over the weekend, and we need to be maximising every opportunity we can to stay in the fight."
Wolff: Mercedes have been working flat-out
One element that could play into Mercedes' favour this weekend is the unpredictable nature of the Baku City Circuit, which has often thrown up some surprise results. It is where both Pierre Gasly and Sebastian Vettel finished on the podium in 2021, with Hamilton and title rival Max Verstappen failing to score points. "As in Barcelona, the slow-speed corners of Monaco presented the W13 a tough challenge but also provided us with valuable learning," continued Wolff. "With another street circuit in Baku up next, the team has been working flat-out to analyse those two races and identify the areas we can innovate to push us forward. "Baku often produces some fun and crazy track action, and the layout generates good racing opportunities. So, let's see if it lives up to its reputation this weekend."
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