Mercedes found plenty to celebrate at the Canadian Grand Prix, especially due to Lewis Hamilton’s exceptional performance in practice, which left team principal Toto Wolff extremely impressed.
Wolff was particularly taken aback by an extraordinary lap from Hamilton during the final practice session in Montreal. Mercedes had their best weekend of the year, with George Russell finishing third and Hamilton close behind in fourth after being overtaken by his teammate in the final laps.
The team’s strong performance suggested that their recent car upgrades are starting to pay off. Wolff was thrilled with Hamilton’s display, remarking on the seven-time champion’s “out of this world” pace in FP3. He noted, “Lewis’s lap was incredibly quick, and his long run was equally impressive.”
For some time, Mercedes has struggled to compete with Red Bull. However, recent performances by McLaren and Ferrari against the defending champions hinted that Mercedes might soon join the fray. McLaren boss Andrea Stella acknowledged Mercedes’ potential, highlighting their impressive lap times in Monaco and other recent events.
Despite their success in Canada, both Mercedes drivers were critical of their own performances. Russell apologized to the team for what he described as an “ugly” race, admitting to several mistakes. Hamilton, who narrowly missed the podium, called it “one of the worst races I’ve ever driven.”
Wolff, however, felt that both drivers were being too hard on themselves. He pointed out that a third and fourth place finish was a significant improvement over recent results, suggesting that the drivers’ disappointment stemmed from knowing they could have achieved even better positions. “If you had offered them third and fourth before the weekend, they would have gladly accepted it,” Wolff reflected.
