After motorsport boss Toto Wolff declared Montreal a “major wake-up call”, Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas has also admitted the team “definitely” needs to upgrade its current engine.
During the Canadian GP, all six cars powered by the German manufacturer had to continue with the same unit which had done the first six races as a planned upgrade was halted due to a “quality issue”.
As a result, at one of the most engine-sensitive tracks on the calendar, it was Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel who pushed ahead with Bottas having to push just to maintain second.
“Since lap one really [Ferrari] seemed to be a bit quicker all the time and they could control the race and we’re really pushing on it,” he said.
“We got into a little bit of trouble in the end, running out of fuel; that’s why Max got close in the end. I think this [P2] was the maximum, I’m happy for that but I’m not happy that we were behind.”
And the Finn does see the engine, which has been class leading since 2014, as the reason for the Montreal weakness.
“[Sunday] showed that we are not quick enough. We definitely need it (the upgrade) and we are going to get for the next race so that’s good,” he added.
