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George Russell during the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Image: Race Pictures

Mercedes reveals formula to end drought ahead of Azerbaijan GP: ‘We can fight’

13:04, 14 Sep

bySamson Ero

The Mercedes team have not had the best of outings in recent runs of races, but the German team have their sight set on an improved performance in Baku. Trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, has revealed what the team must do to clinch a podium at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

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Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri and George Russell on the podium during the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Images: Race Pictures

“We execute at the best without any error.”

- Andrew Shovlin

The British engineer who spoke via the Mercedes team race debrief ahead of the upcoming Azerbaijan race detailed the team’s expectation of finishing on the podium at the Baku street race. The 51-year-old also highlighted what the team must do to achieve their aim for the street race.

“For a team like ourselves, that’s always the objective. But we have to be mindful that McLaren has been strong the whole year in almost all the conditions. And also recently, Verstappen has been quite strong as well. So it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be difficult. And we’ll have to make sure that we maximise our one lap performance, and operationally we execute at the best without any error. And then we can fight for it.”

The Mercedes team have been without a podium finish since the Hungary Grand Prix. Last time out in Monza, the team also found itself far off the pace of front-runner Max Verstappen.

Mercedes’ W16 well-suited to Baku?

The Mercedes engineering chief also touched on the W16 machinery being well suited to the demands ot the Azerbaijan street track. Showlin referenced the impressive showing the team had with George Russell during the 2024 race, expressing optimism that a repeat could be on the cards.

“It's a good question. Last year, it was a good showing from us with George on the podium. Like I said, the competition is very tough at the moment with all the teams. So it could be a good track, but we have to do everything at our best.”

The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix witnessed Russell finish on the podium following a late race collision involving Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz. Teammate Lewis Hamilton, however, could only muster up a ninth-place finish under the Baku sun.

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