Toto Wolff says Mercedes are 'getting closer' to race victories

Toto Wolff says Mercedes are ‘getting closer’ to race victories as Formula 1 returns this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix.

The Silver Arrows haven’t had the season that they wanted but, that said, they have picked up results-wise in recent races and, before the summer break, they were on a good run of podium finishes, with Lewis Hamilton making the top three on the last five occasions.

A race win is what they all want, though, and they’ll be hoping they show more signs of progress this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Wolff predicted that they are still closing the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari:

“We headed into the break off the back of a strong run of races and our biggest race weekend points score so far this year, in Hungary. While we’re still not quite in the fight for victories, we’re getting closer, so we need to keep the momentum going and the pressure on. “The Shutdown is an important time for the team to take some time off, recharge and spend time with their families, whose support throughout the year is invaluable. There are few opportunities to do so during the season and the development race is relentless, so the break has been well deserved for everyone in the team. “We’re set for an intense second half of the season, with nine more opportunities to find improvements, make progress and hopefully challenge Red Bull and Ferrari for wins.

“Spa-Francorchamps needs no introduction. A classic track with an old-school feel, the scene of many iconic moments in F1 history and an incredible challenge for both the car and drivers. We’re excited to be back there, hopefully we can put on an awesome show this year for all the fans in Belgium, and we’ll also be celebrating 55 years of