P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“Post shutdown, our attention will inevitably turn further towards 2026 though.”
Toto Wolff has indicated that Mercedes will shift its focus to next year following the summer break shutdown, with just two races remaining before the break in F1’s calendar. The upcoming events include the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps and the Hungarian GP in Budapest, before teams must adhere to a two-week break to provide staff and drivers a respite from the sport. Given Mercedes’ current situation of not being in title contention and the imminent rule change for next year, the team is now directing its attention towards the 2026 season. Despite this shift, Wolff emphasized the importance of the upcoming races in Belgium and Hungary to build momentum and work on improving the W16’s performance across different tracks and conditions.
Mercedes aims to replicate its successful 2024 results, notably the 1-2 finish at the Belgian GP from last year. While George Russell initially won on track with a daring one-stop strategy, his disqualification post-race due to a weight issue saw Lewis Hamilton retain second place. The Belgian GP victory remains Hamilton’s most recent F1 win, as the team looks ahead to using the unique challenges of Spa and the Hungaroring to make progress with the car and strive for strong performances. Wolff highlighted the distinct features of each circuit, emphasizing the team’s goal of continuous improvement and competitive results.
