Red Bull brought 'van loads of new parts' to Austria - Toto Wolff

Styrian Grand Prix

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Red Bull brought 'van loads of new parts' to Austria - Wolff

Mercedes boss highlighted difference between his team and F1 rival

Ian Parkes

Monday 28 June 2021 05:00

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed to Red Bull delivering 'van loads' of new parts ahead of the Styrian Grand Prix in its quest to land this year's F1 titles.

In a year when teams are conscious of the need to plough resources into the 2022 car given the drastic changes to the regulations, Red Bull is bucking the trend as it seeks to end Mercedes' seven-year domination of F1.

The team is continuing to develop the RB16B, as seemingly witnessed by Wolff ahead of the race at the Red Bull Ring.

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In stark contrast, Wolff has confirmed there will be no development on the W12 due to the resources required for next season.

"It is a very, very tricky decision because we are having new regulations not only for next year but for the years to come, a completely different car concept," said Wolff.

"You have got to choose the right balance and pretty much everybody is going to be on next year’s car.

“Some may still bring stuff [to the track]. Red Bull brought vans on Thursday and Friday with new parts and fair enough.

"It is a strategy and one that proves to be successful as it stands because they were simply in a league of their own from a car pace-wise.”

Wolff has chatted with Hamilton over lack of development

Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton had no answer to Red Bull and Max Verstappen who led from lights to flag for the third time this year.

The only consolation for the seven-time F1 champion is that he secured a point for the fastest lap on the final lap, but heads into next weekend's return in Austria now trailing the Dutch driver by 18 points.

Asked whether Hamilton had bought into Mercedes' no upgrade philosophy, Wolff added: “A driver will always fight with everything he has.

"We have had the chat before and as a matter of fact, it is a very rational decision.

"The upgrades you bring wouldn’t close the deficit, an aerodynamic deficit of the magnitude that these new aerodynamic regulations cost us. Fact."

Wolff is refusing to throw in the towel, though, for one simple reason.

“They [Red Bull] will stop aero development at a certain stage because it would be dangerous for next year’s championship to lose out," assessed Wolff.

“The fight is still full-on. That wasn’t our best circuit in the past and wasn’t on Sunday. That doesn’t mean that we have no weapons in our armoury left.”