No let up from Mercedes as it takes F1 title brace to Bahrain Grand Prix
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says it won’t let up the intensity of its current dominance ahead of the final triple-header to conclude a rollercoaster of a 2020 F1 World Championship, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
With Mercedes wrapping up yet another constructors’ crown in Imola, Lewis Hamilton duly followed suit in Turkey to draw level with Michael Schumacher to claim seven drivers’ titles.
Victory at Istanbul Park - held in difficult weather conditions and on a track surface that was broadly criticised as too slippery - means Hamilton has won all but four races this season, while he has a solid (if not ‘outstanding’ by his own standards) record in Bahrain with three wins.
How do Lewis Hamilton's 7 F1 World Titles Compare?
He will get two chances to add to that tally this year with the standard layout setting the scene for this weekend’s event before driving the unusual ‘outer’ layout the following weekend.
“We witnessed something truly remarkable at the last race in Turkey with Lewis winning his seventh Drivers' Championship,” Wolff said.
“And the way in which he did it was spectacular. In general, it was a difficult weekend for us as a team and a big challenge for everyone, but Lewis did an outstanding job to come from sixth on the grid to take victory and he has cemented his position among the all-time best sportspeople in the world.
“We had some mixed fortunes as it was a tough weekend for Valtteri, but we know how resilient and strong he is. I know he will bounce back stronger in these final three races.
“Now we look ahead to Bahrain and returning to a familiar circuit. It always presents an interesting challenge, because of the variation in track conditions and temperatures between the sessions. FP1 and FP3 are held in the warmer daytime temperatures, but FP2, qualifying and the race take place in the cooler evening climate. This makes it challenging to set up the car and gather the right information when it counts.
“Meanwhile, with the titles sealed, Wolff says he will now turn his attention to the fight for third overall involving four teams, including current engine customers Racing Point and future Mercedes power unit customer McLaren.
We've enjoyed some strong performances in Bahrain in the past and it's always a track that produces interesting racing. Both titles may have already been decided, but we're still going to give it our best shot and we will be following the intense battle for P3 in the championship with interest.”
