Toto Wolff has set Mercedes the target of continuing to apply pressure to their rivals as they look to maintain their momentum when the season resumes. F1's summer break will come to an end when the Belgian Grand Prix takes place on 26-28 August, and the Silver Arrows go into the weekend off the back of consecutive double podiums in France and Hungary. The team now sit only 30 points behind second-placed Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, and Wolff is determined that the squad continue to work towards achieiving their first victory of the campaign. "We headed into the break off the back of a strong run of races and our biggest race weekend points score so far this year, in Hungary," Wolff said ahead of the race at Spa-Francorchamps. "While we're still not quite in the fight for victories, we're getting closer, so we need to keep the momentum going and the pressure on."
Benefits of F1's summer break
Given the busy 22-race schedule in place for the season, Wolff admits that the summer break has offered an important opportunity for the team to recharge. "The shutdown is an important time for the team to take some time off, recharge and spend time with their families, whose support throughout the year is invaluable," the team boss continued. "There are few opportunities to do so during the season and the development race is relentless, so the break has been well deserved for everyone in the team." As such, Wolff hopes that the refresh will enable Mercedes to edge even closer to their rivals at the front of the pack. "We're set for an intense second half of the season, with nine more opportunities to find improvements, make progress and hopefully challenge Red Bull and Ferrari for wins," he added.
Wolff looks forward to return to "classic" Spa
The historic Spa-Francorchamps venue will host the first F1 race after the summer break, and Wolff is looking forward to returning to the circuit. "Spa-Francorchamps needs no introduction," Wolff said. "A classic track with an old-school feel, the scene of many iconic moments in F1 history and an incredible challenge for both the car and drivers. "We're excited to be back there, hopefully we can put on an awesome show this year for all the fans in Belgium, and we'll also be celebrating 55 years of Mercedes-AMG too, with some fun activities."
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