Toto Wolff cautious about Mercedes challenges at Austrian GP

Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, is taking a cautious approach towards his team’s prospects ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix — despite recent success in Montreal with George Russell‘s victory and Kimi Antonelli‘s podium finish.

The Canadian GP success marked a crucial moment for the Brackley team following a slow season start. Performance improvements, particularly from the rear suspension upgrade introduced at Emilia Romagna GP, are beginning to show positive results.

“Victory and double podium in Montreal were a reward for everyone’s hard work at Brackley and Brixworth,” stated Wolff. “Though we’ve made solid progress with our car, we cannot expect the same performance level every weekend.”

The Red Bull Ring presents different characteristics from Montreal — its track layout and tarmac potentially exposing W16’s weaknesses, especially in tire management under extreme temperatures.

McLaren, leading the constructors’ standings by 175 points over Mercedes, demonstrates more efficient tire management. Meanwhile, Red Bull, with Max Verstappen‘s strong history at their home venue, benefits from high-speed sections and elevation changes.