© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Toto Wolff has dismissed Christian Horner’s speculation that Mercedes’ improved pace is due to the team employing a trick “straightline device”.
At the Turkish Grand Prix Mercedes seemed to enjoy a noticeable top speed advantage over Red Bull, which prompted Red Bull’s team boss Christian Horner to suggest that the German team is using a trick device.
“Their straightline speed has taken a significant step recently, and I think that whereas we could match them with smaller wings previously, now we can’t get near,” Horner said.
“I think that Mercedes are obviously optimising a straightline device that they’re able to do at that type of circuit.
“If you look at the rear of their car, you know, how it lowers. I think [Turkey] played to their strengths,” the Briton concluded.
When asked about Horner’s comments, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff dismissed any insinuation about a special device.
“I think we recognise absolutely that this is a sport where competitors will always try to find out if there is some kind of silver bullet,” the Austrian said.
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“My experience is there is no such thing, it’s all the small gains, marginal gains that have been added and bring performance.
“We’re trying to really comprehend our car better and add performance in lap time without listening too much to the noise.”
Wolff was then asked to give his explanation for Mercedes improved performance.
“I think what we have been able to understand is how to hit the sweet spot of the car, in terms of the set-up.
“Today when you look at the lap time, it’s a straightline gain, and I think we found the right compromise between drag and downforce.
“And on the other side, we were very quick through the very fast corners, which is good and equal to Red Bull on the slow corners.
“So overall, the car is much better together,” Wolff concluded.
