F1 News
Mercedes in the lead at Silverstone: 'Red Bull no longer has the advantage'
- GPblog.com
This weekend will be hugely important for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. The last five races went to Red Bull Racing and the gap in both championships is increasing. Marc Surer says it is important for Mercedes to strike at Silverstone and they have plenty of chances.
"Austria is of course a special track, with long straights and tight corners. That makes it special and also does not correspond to the characteristics of other circuits," Surer explains in conversation with Formel1.de. He also thinks he knows why Red Bull was so fast at the Red Bull Ring.
Mercedes with best chances
"The Honda engine often goes well at higher altitudes. In Mexico they were in a class of their own and in Brazil they always did well. The Red Bull Ring itself is at 700 metres. The thin air seems to help the engine". According to Surer, the proportions will therefore be different this weekend. "If we drive at normal altitude, that advantage in performance will probably be lost".
Another thing that is likely to help Mercedes is the corners at Silverstone."In those longer corners, the cars with a longer wheelbase have an advantage. You simply have a quieter car in the long corners. Silverstone will therefore be another chance for Mercedes to win," Surer concluded.