Shovlin reveals "Mercedes will be looking to optimise the W16" in Zandvoort
On the back of Mercedes' first podium finish since the Canadian Grand Prix, trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin claimed that the Brackley-based squad has been left "encouraged by the improvement."
Mercedes had looked to struggle for pace at the start of the Budapest weekend with their W16 that featured the previous-specification rear suspension.
However, George Russell went on to secure fourth place on the grid on Saturday, albeit his rookie team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli failed to qualify higher than P14.
At the start of the 70-lap Mogyoród race, Russell was opportunistic, picking off Lando Norris to run third. Although he had appeared to finish in fourth place, he managed to pick off Charles Leclerc after the Monegasue battled through technical issues. In the end, Russell finished third to claim his first podium finish since his dominant victory at the Canadian Grand Prix.
His team-mate Antonelli made up several positions at the start. The Bologna-born then committed himself to a one-stop strategy, and he racked up 48 laps on the same set of hards to finish tenth in Mogyoród, picking up a solitary point.
On the back of Mercedes' first podium finish since the Canadian Grand Prix, trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin claimed that the Brackley-based squad has been left "encouraged by the improvement."
"We leave the Hungaroring pleased with a solid result and encouraged by the improvement we have seen with the W16. George, starting P4, fought hard with Norris throughout the first two stints, showing good pace throughout.
"The McLaren was ultimately able to make the one stop work and with it, take victory. George’s speed though helped us close down the Ferrari of Leclerc and pick him off for P3 and the podium in the closing stages.
"With Kimi, the first half of the race was frustrating as he was stuck in a train of cars all on different compounds. We opted to stop him to claim some free air, but he soon found himself back in the pack.
"It is to his great credit that by extending on the Hard tyre he opened the possibility of claiming the final point in P10. Some clever driving on near 50 lap old tyres held off Hadjar and Hamilton in what was an impressive final stint.
Signing off with a word for what Mercedes targets at in the coming weeks, Shovlin noted: "We now head into the mandatory summer shutdown period. When we return after the break, we will be looking to optimise the W16 and build on this confidence building weekend when we return in Zandvoort.
"There are still 10 races to go, and we want to end the season on a high. We are also in a battle for second in the Constructors’ Championship and we will be doing everything we can to claim this by the season finale in Abu Dhabi."
