Mercedes is taking advantage of the summer break to prepare for a second half of the season that promises to be decisive in the fight for the titles with a comfortable lead over its rivals, but nothing is decided yet.
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Despite eight wins in the first eleven races and leading both championships, the German team refuses to consider its advantages as guaranteed and believes that the most difficult period of the season begins now.
Deputy team principal Bradley Lord notably points out that pressure and operational complexity will gradually increase: “We are only halfway through the season, but in many ways, the hardest part starts now. The number of remaining races is decreasing, travel becomes more intense, and the team spends longer periods away from Brackley. At the same time, we continue to develop the car and introduce updates all over the world, which increases the complexity of our work.”
Don’t change a winning team
In this tense context, Mercedes primarily wants to avoid rushing: “Success comes through calm and discipline. It’s not about working frantically, but ensuring that every decision is thoughtful and every step of progress is properly planned,” says Lord.
Strategy director Simone Resta shares this approach and considers that the extremely tight level of competition forces Mercedes to optimize every detail: “The competitiveness is so high that we have to optimize all aspects. We have an experienced team, solid processes, and excellent tools. The key is to keep progressing, analyzing problems, setting priorities, and solving critical difficulties one by one without disrupting our habits.”
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Mercedes notably acknowledges having lost several opportunities during the first half of the season, particularly due to reliability issues. The goal now is to precisely identify each weakness rather than seek solutions in a hurry.
The lived experience
“We certainly dropped points along the way, but we face these difficulties with determination,” assures the Italian engineer. “We must understand the cause, bring the right solution, and continue to progress. If we do this continuously, we will become an even stronger team.”
Despite its favorable position, Resta therefore refuses to consider the championships as already won: “We have to focus on one race at a time. We cannot be distracted by the standings. We must maximize every weekend, improve our reliability, bring performance to the car, and exploit all available potential. There is still a long way to go.”
For the Italian technician, the restart after the summer break will precisely be the real test for Mercedes: “Championships always change after the summer break. Pressure increases both for those in front and for those chasing. It is at this moment that the strength and resilience of an organization are tested. This is where championships are won or lost.”
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