Formula 1 | Mercedes F1 cautiously optimistic ahead of Italian GP

Mercedes F1 chief track engineer Andrew Shovlin is quite optimistic ahead of Monza. Mercedes haven’t won there since 2018, but the team led last year before a red flag, and Lewis Hamilton had played victory over Charles Leclerc two years ago.

« Our cars have performed well there over the years » Shovlin said. « It’s a circuit we’ve been strong on and I think it requires a level of drag that we’ve seen our car perform well on. »

« At Spa the Friday indications in the dry were that we were very good, both on the single laps and on the long runs. But we have no illusions that it will be a challenge and I think that losing at Zandvoort prevented any complacency. « 

However, Mercedes does not want to arrive in conquered ground in Italy, despite an engine advantage, provided that the minimum downforce is sufficient for the W12 to perform: « We’re not going to go to Monza thinking we can just do our usual job and come away with a win. »

« We expect to have to really work for it and to have to pull it all off. We’re going to put all of our effort into preparing for this because the goal is to go there and come back to the top of both championships. »