F1 News

Brawn tips Mercedes to fire back after Austrian disappointment

Brawn tips Mercedes to fire back after Austrian disappointment

07-07-2019 10:47
1
Author profile picture

Jake Williams-Smith

F1 motorsport director Ross Brawn has warned Ferrari and Red Bull over a potential Mercedes boost in performance following the champions disappointing result in Austria.

While Valtteri Bottas salvaged a podium for the Silver Arrows, Lewis Hamilton struggled down in fifth as both cars suffered from overheating issues in the European heat.

Ahead of the British Grand Prix, a race that will no doubt result in another level of performance from Hamilton on home soil, Brawn warned the team's rivals that Mercedes could find another gear as it looks to bounce back from what it would consider an unacceptable result.

“The dream of a clean sweep through the season, which ultimately was probably a bridge too far, is now over, but you’d hardly mark Austria down as a crisis weekend,” Brawn said in his race review column.

“Maybe it will give the team even greater motivation, although such a voracious squad hardly needs any more drive as they head towards what can be seen as their two home races. Red Bull and Ferrari, you have been warned!

“Never a prophet in one’s own land, so the saying goes and, over the past two years in Austria that could be applied to Toto Wolff.

“Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport had both its cars retire last year at this track, their worst result of 2018 year, and this time, Toto’s home race marked the end of a run of ten straight wins dating back to Brazil last year.

“This weekend was not quite as disastrous as last year’s, as Valtteri Bottas at least made it to the podium, in third place, but a long way behind the two men ahead of him.”

Follow GPblog now on TwitterYouTube, and Facebook!