Special Exhibit at Mercedes-Benz Museum on Commercial Vehicles Starting June 8

 

• Vans and trucks spanning 130 years, right up to the eSprinter and eActros 600 with high-performance electric drives
• In 1896, Carl Benz sold the first van and Gottlieb Daimler delivered the first truck
• Classics & Coffee on 28 June 2026, featuring a special theme: “Commercial Vehicles”

Ever since Carl Benz sold the first van in 1896 and Gottlieb Daimler delivered the first truck in the same year, commercial vehicles have shaped global transport and logistics. The special exhibition “130 Years of Commercial Vehicles” at the Mercedes-Benz Museum explores this history and, from 28 June 2026 to 4 April 2027, showcases seven vehicles from different eras in Collection Room 5 – including the latest battery-electric models from Mercedes-Benz Vans and Mercedes-Benz Trucks, such as the eSprinter and eActros 600. 

Indispensable in everyday life

The special exhibition highlights the importance of vans and trucks in everyday life: they ensure the supply of goods, keep economic cycles moving, and are just as much a part of the scene on construction sites as they are on motorways and in cities. Hardly any area of daily life can do without them. “130 Years of Commercial Vehicles” showcases this diversity, presenting vans and trucks from three different eras. Media stations draw on historical forms of communication, such as traditional advertising columns, and enrich the exhibits with additional perspectives. A striking illustration of the global significance of commercial vehicles is an animated 1.5-metre-tall LED globe that visualizes data and stories from 130 years of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle history. 

The vehicles in the special exhibition

• The Benz 1C from 1922 represents the early days of series-production trucks. The 1.5-tonne vehicle started out as a fire-fighting vehicle and was later converted. During the restoration, it was fitted with its current platform body.
• From 1952 onwards, the Mercedes-Benz 170 V panel van was also used by Mercedes-Benz Service. The compact van carried tools and spare parts beneath an elegantly designed “Sindelfingen body”.
• The Mercedes-Benz O 319 D panorama bus from 1961 was a real treat for any travel enthusiast. Compact buses of this type, along with the L 319 vans, were companions of the “economic miracle” era.
• The Mercedes-Benz L 911 bears the marks of a hard working life: the special exhibition presents this medium-duty short-nosed vehicle from 1966, with its original patina intact.
• The Mercedes-Benz eVito from 2023, with its battery-electric drive, proves its worth in everyday use in urban logistics, trades and the service sector. Various small-series vehicles paved the way for this.
• In 1995, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter gave its name to an entire category of vehicles. The latest Mercedes-Benz eSprinter continues the success story with battery-electric rear-wheel drive. On display is a vehicle from 2024.
• The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 has been in series production since 2024. It is designed for long-distance haulage on battery power: with a battery capacity of 621 kWh and a range of 500 kilometers without recharging, it sets new standards in long-distance haulage. 

Vans and trucks in the Atrium

In the Museum’s Atrium, a temporary display of classic commercial vehicles from Mercedes-Benz’s history complements the special exhibition. Authentic reconstructions of the Benz Combination delivery van from 1899 and the Daimler truck from 1896 are on display to mark the opening of the special exhibition – the pioneers of commercial vehicle history. Both are also used at various events.

Miniatures and interactive stations

The special exhibition also showcases the diversity of commercial vehicles on a miniature scale. With over 180 models of various vans and trucks, visitors can experience the latest developments in a range of scales, primarily 1:87. They were provided by the members of the Mercedes-Benz Model Car Club. 

Two interactive stations also offer a fun way to engage with the exhibition: an arcade game invites players to take part in virtual truck racing, while “VANtastic Memo” tests your memory with images from van history. 

Classic car meet and Family Day

At the special themed event of the multi-brand classic car meet “Classics & Coffee” on 28 June 2026, commercial vehicles will take center stage alongside the opening of the special exhibition. Vans and trucks will also play a prominent role at Family Day on 5 July 2026. Among other things, there will be opportunities to ride in vintage vehicles. 

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The ticket counter always closes at 5 p.m. 

Austrian Grand Prix Preview

 

Toto Talks Austria

Barcelona acted as a benchmark for our current performance and, having won the first six races, offered a reality check. Others have gained ground quickly and we need to respond. We are in a fight for both championships but must improve if we want to come out on top come the end of the season. 

Our Achilles heel so far has been reliability. We have lost a large number of points across both cars in recent races; if we don’t put together clean weekends, our competitors will happily take advantage.

We are not standing still in our efforts; we will bring a few updates to Austria this weekend with a focus on improving both performance and reliability. The margins are tight and will be even tighter around Spielberg given the length of the lap. We need to put together a better weekend than we have in recent races but if we can deliver to our maximum, then we know we can challenge for victory.

Third Driver Insights

Austria is an incredible circuit and, without doubt, one of the most beautiful on the calendar. I have a special connection with the track, I’ve always enjoyed racing here and it’s been my most successful venue so far.

In many ways it’s a simple layout, but that’s what makes it so competitive, especially in qualifying where the lap times are extremely close. It’s such a rewarding track to hook up a lap; with the high-speed sections combined with a handful of slower corners, you really need to deliver something close to perfection to be at the front.

The race itself usually provides great action too, with the long straights and heavy braking zones creating plenty of overtaking opportunities. I’m also excited to see how the current regulations play out here and what strategic options come into play. It should make for a very interesting race weekend.

Did you know?

• After holding three Sprint format weekends, the Austrian Grand Prix returns to the non-Sprint format weekend for this year
• With just 10 corners, Spielberg has the fewest of any track of the current F1 circuits. At the same time, turns 2, 5 and 8 are taken at full throttle and are therefore not considered to be corners in an engineering sense.
• The difference in elevation of 69 meters between the lowest and highest points at the circuit is one of the largest of the season. That is unsurprising given the track's location in the Styrian mountains.
• It also has a steep gradient from track edge-to-edge in places, as exemplified by Turns 3 and 4. The circuit here slopes up towards the apex as the car drives over the crest while accelerating out of the corner. This can result in one wheel leaving the ground, causing challenges with braking, stability, and traction.
• For that reason, teams must apply significant cooling levels to the brakes. That poses a challenge in warming up the front tires. With a short out-lap, it is a challenge to get them in the right operating window for a qualifying lap.
• With a maximum previously recorded track temperature of 55.1 degrees, the surface in Spielberg can be one of the hottest of the season.
• Niki Lauda is the only Austrian driver to have won the Austrian Grand Prix, in 1984.
• George’s triumph in 2024 means he has won at the Red Bull Ring in F3, F2, and F1.
• Kimi drove an F1 car for the very first time at the circuit in 2024, when he tested the Mercedes F1 W12 from the 2021 season.
• George’s 2024 victory also meant that every Mercedes F1 driver at that time in the Hybrid era (2014) had won the Austrian Grand Prix. That list also includes Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Valtteri Bottas.

Mercedes‑Benz starts large‑scale production of electric axial flux motor in Berlin‑Marienfelde

 

• Revolutionary Mercedes-Benz drive system developed in Berlin-Marienfelde
• High-tech manufacturing: 35 processes that are new worldwide and more than 30 patent applications
• Production across around 30,000 square meters in three halls and seven production lines
• Highly innovative axial flux motors are used for the first time in the new high-performance model, 
   the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe

 

Aerial view of the Mercedes-Benz site in Berlin-Marienfelde.

Mercedes-Benz has commenced large-scale production of its new electric axial flux motor at its Berlin-Marienfelde plant. With the launch of large-scale production of this revolutionary drive system from Mercedes-Benz, the company’s oldest manufacturing site is opening a new chapter in its history spanning more than 120 years. The compact high-performance motor is celebrating its world debut in a production vehicle in the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe. Founded in 1902, the Berlin-Marienfelde plant has been part of the global powertrain production network for decades. Since 2022, it has also been home to the Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus. Mercedes-Benz is now establishing the site as a center of excellence for the manufacture of high-performance electric motors. 

“With the start of large‑scale series production of the axial flux motor in Berlin‑Marienfelde, we are bringing a pioneering innovation for electromobility into industrial reality. In doing so, we are sending a strong signal of technological leadership, operational excellence and the transformation of the automotive industry in Germany. My special thanks go to the team that made this highly technical and complex project possible with passion, precision, and great pioneering spirit.” 
Michael Schiebe, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, 
 responsible for Production, Quality & Supply Chain Management 

“Mastering the demanding axial flux technology is a major opportunity for the German and European automotive industry. This innovative electric motor helps establish a strong foothold in the premium segment. The start of production of the axial flux motor in Berlin-Marienfelde sends a powerful signal about Germany’s strength as an industrial location. With Mercedes-Benz’s axial flux motor, electromobility gains additional momentum. A decisive factor in the continued success of e-mobility is the availability of charging infrastructure. Through our Charging Infrastructure Master Plan 2030, we support both the considerable commitment of the charging infrastructure industry and the efforts of the automotive industry.” 
Patrick Schnieder, German Federal Minister of Transport

„The production launch of this new, cutting-edge axial flux motor marks the beginning of a new chapter for innovative vehicle technology, industrial value creation and the transformation of mobility. Berlin needs success stories like this. These inspire confidence in change, secure jobs and strengthen our position in international competition. The good news today is that Marienfelde is a location steeped in tradition that is shaping the future through technological excellence.“ 
Ute Bonde, Senator for Urban Mobility, Transport, Climate Action and the Environment for the state of Berlin

Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupe | combined energy consumption: 21.0-17.9 kWh/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km | CO₂ class: A1 Mercedes-AMG GT 55 4-Door Coupe | combined energy consumption: 21.0-17.8 kWh/100 km | combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km | CO₂ class: A1

 

By starting the large‑scale series production of the axial flux motor, a technological vision is becoming industrial reality. What was long considered barely feasible due to its complexity is now being manufactured in large series in Berlin‑Marienfelde. In total, production comprises 98 process steps. Sixty‑five of these are being used for the first time at Mercedes‑Benz, while 35 processes are new worldwide. The technologies developed for this purpose have resulted in more than 30 patent applications. Across around 30,000 square meters of production space, in three halls and on seven production lines, Mercedes‑Benz combines highly automated manufacturing processes, laser technology, intelligent control systems, AI‑based quality control and the expertise of highly skilled employees. 

From vision to large‑scale production

The start of large‑scale series production of the axial flux motor places exceptional demands on precision, process reliability and automation. The motor’s compact design and high-power density require manufacturing methods that were newly developed specifically for this application and industrialized for large‑scale production. 

One example is the manufacture of the copper coils. To achieve the high-power density of the axial flux motor, rectangular copper wire is used in the stator, among other elements. This allows more copper to be installed in the same installation space than with round wire. However, the wire must be bent at high speed into tight radii without forming creases, damaging the insulation or reducing the cross‑section. 
Mercedes‑Benz has developed in cooperation with partners a special process for this purpose that combines maximum precision with industrial cycle capability. 

The interconnection of the coil packages in the stator is also technologically demanding. Each coil end must be connected to the corresponding interconnection wire within a very confined installation space – without causing thermal damage to adjacent plastic structures. The solution is a highly precise laser connection of the copper wires. This enables minimal energy input at the welding point while maintaining a very short process time. 

Highly precise laser polymer welding

Another example of precision‑critical manufacturing processes is polymer welding. Simultaneous laser transmission welding of plastic components in the drivetrain requires the highest level of geometric accuracy and minimally invasive energy input in order to avoid damage to the surrounding areas. AI‑supported optical real‑time quality control documents the joint immediately and thus supports process reliability. During the conditioning of joining partners, AI‑based image processing detects the exact position of a component, places virtual protection zones over sensitive areas and ensures that the laser precisely processes only the intended surfaces. The components joined in this way are both oil‑pressure‑tight and capable of withstanding high mechanical loads.  

Highly precise final assembly

The final assembly, known internally as the “wedding”, is particularly impressive. During this process, the stator is positioned between two rotor discs fitted with magnets and permanently joined. Magnetic forces of up to 9 kN (kilonewtons) – equivalent to around 900 kilograms – act on the components. At the same time, the stator must remain within the magnetic center plane with a tolerance of less than 0.1 millimeters. An innovative control algorithm corrects the position in the final 0.5 seconds of the process using high‑frequency control impulses. What matters here is not force alone, but intelligent control, sensitive sensor technology and precise process management. 

The axial flux motor: maximum performance in the smallest possible space

The British electric motor specialist YASA built upon the fundamental principle of the axial flux motor and developed an innovative prototype on which the current motor is based. Since YASA became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes‑Benz AG in 2021, Mercedes‑Benz has consistently further developed the technology. This applies to both the product itself and the production process in order for both to meet the requirements of automotive mass production, high performance, and continuous load capability. One example: The axial flux motor on the front axle reaches speeds of more than 15,000 revolutions per minute.   

In contrast to conventional radial flux motors, the electromagnetic flux in an axial flux motor runs parallel to the axis of rotation. The key components are arranged in a disc‑shaped layout: two rotors sandwich the stator from the left and right. This design enables an especially compact motor architecture, high power and torque density, and new freedoms in drivetrain packaging. In the new Mercedes‑AMG GT 4‑Door Coupe, the motor at the front axle is just under nine centimetres wide; the two motors at the rear axle each measure around eight centimetres in width. The three axial flux motors are integrated per axle into so‑called High Performance Electric Drive Units (HP.EDU), where they are combined with a compact input planetary gearbox in a single housing. 

The new Mercedes‑AMG GT 4‑Door Coupe clearly demonstrates the performance potential of this technology. The all‑electric performance model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in as little as 2.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 300 km/h with the Driver’s Package. Its capabilities were also demonstrated the previous year by a spectacular record run in Nardò with the technology demonstrator CONCEPT AMG GT XX: over seven days and 13 hours, it covered more than 40,000 kilometers and set 25 long‑distance records. 

Digital Factory Campus as an innovation engine

The start of large‑scale series production of the axial flux motor is closely linked to the strategic further development of the Berlin‑Marienfelde site. With the Mercedes‑Benz Digital Factory Campus, the plant has assumed a central role in the digitalization of production within the global Mercedes‑Benz production network since 2022. The campus serves as a real production environment for the development and testing of digital applications based on the MO360 production ecosystem. 

With the industrialization of the axial flux motor, Berlin‑Marienfelde brings together key future fields: high‑performance electric drive systems, digital production and intelligent automation. As the oldest producing Mercedes‑Benz site, it is thus taking on a central role in transferring new technologies into scalable, quality‑assured large‑scale production processes.

M-B Preview of Barcelona-Catalunya F! Grand Prix

 

Toto Talks Barcelona-Catalunya

Barcelona is a more traditional, and therefore representative, circuit; it's a real test of a car. It has a long straight and a mix of high, medium, and low-speed corners, so after two Sprint weekends and Monaco, it should give us a better read on our performance. It will be the first weekend where we can understand more clearly our recent updates and where we sit relative to the rest of the field. We need to see how the car behaves, whether the performance is there, and whether we can extract it. Until then, we should be careful not to draw too many conclusions from recent races.

Kimi will naturally take confidence from Monaco, but the focus has to be on continuing to build and doing the job in Barcelona. For George, the last races have not gone his way, but that is part of racing. He is very strong mentally, we know the level he can deliver, and he has the right people around him. The objective is simple: reset, focus on the weekend ahead, and put together the performance we know he is capable of.

Fred will also drive Kimi’s car in FP1. He has been an important part of our development work with the W17 and in helping us understand how to unlock more from the package. This session is a good opportunity for him to connect that simulator work with the real car, and for us to gather another useful data point as we keep working to improve.

Third Driver Insights

Barcelona is a very familiar track. We first ran these new cars there back in January, so it will be interesting to return after the first five months of racing and see how much performance we’ve unlocked.

It’s a high-speed, technical circuit with a mix of fast and slow corners, which always makes finding the right setup quite challenging. Tire management will also be key, especially on the rear tires, which tend to take a lot of energy.

I’ll be driving in FP1, so I’m very excited to get my first taste of the W17. It is something I’ve been waiting for since the beginning of the year. I’ll also be working closely with the team throughout the weekend.

Did you know?

• This weekend marks George’s 100th Grand Prix driving for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team – his first came at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
• This year marks the last year that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya retains a permanent place on the calendar; moving forward it will be in a rotational system with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
• Most of the track’s low-speed turns are left-handers and most of the right-handers are taken at high speeds.  This poses a challenge for setting up the car, with asymmetric setups an option. That track characteristic also means the left tyres wear out quicker, while the right tires experience lower temperatures.
• 24 of the 34 races that have taken place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya have been won from pole.
• Barcelona first appeared on the calendar in 1991 and has hosted the Spanish Grand Prix in every season since until this year, where the Spanish Grand Prix is hosted in Madrid.
• Lewis Hamilton recorded his 100th pole position at the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix while driving for the team.
• Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most consecutive wins at a Grand Prix circuit with five in Barcelona (2017-2021). He shares this record with Ayrton Senna and Monaco (1989-1993).

Kimi Makes History at Monaco GP

• 
  
  
  
  Kimi became the youngest Monaco Grand Prix winner in history as he took victory on the streets of the principality on Sunday afternoon.
• George came home out of the points in P12 after having to serve a drive-through penalty in the closing laps with the field bunched up following a red flag.
• Both drivers started on the medium compound and were running a conventional one-stop, switching to the Hard tire. 
• Kimi had the race under control at the front whilst George pulled off the undercut on the Red Bull of Isack Hadjar to take net P4 at his first stop.
• George picked up a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pitlane but this was en route to being irrelevant as he had a comfortable gap and the race headed to a calm conclusion.
• That came to an end when Lance Stroll hit the barrier at the final corner and the Safety Car was deployed.
• After missing the opportunity to pit first time around, both cars stopped at the next opportunity but the team failed to serve George’s penalty correctly; that led to a stop-go penalty.
• After Charles Leclerc also crashed on the restart, the red flag flew and George would be punished severely when taking his penalty once the race resumed.
• Kimi, now on used soft tires, managed the standing start well and calmly brought his car home to take victory.
• George meanwhile served his penalty and emerged in P14, gaining a few positions due to time penalties to be classified P12 ultimately. 
• Kimi, at 19 years, 9 months, and 13 days old, becomes the youngest Monaco GP winner in history.
• He also takes the team’s first victory in Monte Carlo since 2019 where Lewis Hamilton claimed an emotional victory following the recent passing of Niki Lauda. 
• Toto Wolff, Team Principal, CEO, and Co-Owner, represented the team on the podium.

• Kimi Antonelli

  It’s an incredible feeling to win in Monaco. It’s such a special weekend and one I’ll remember for a long time. Today was one of those days where everything just clicked; I had a lot of confidence in the car, felt strong throughout, and to bring the win home in a place like this makes it even more meaningful.

  From a race perspective, there were definitely some key moments to manage. The starts are still an area we’re working on, but I’ve made good progress. My first one was solid, and although the second was a bit more challenging with the tyres, it’s positive to see improvement. 

  The red flag added a bit of stress, especially knowing the restart could change everything, but we handled it well. In the final laps, I really enjoyed myself out there, even though I still had to carefully manage the tires. This track demands a lot of focus, you have to find the right balance between pushing and not making mistakes, and once you settle into that rhythm, everything starts to come together.

  At the same time, I know there’s still a lot to learn and improve. I just want to keep pushing, keep building on this momentum, and most importantly, keep enjoying the journey. That’s what makes moments like this so rewarding.

  George Russell

  Firstly, congratulations to Kimi. He did an amazing job today and over the weekend and is a well-deserving winner. On my side, the race was very difficult. I had managed to get to P4 but the penalty for speeding in the pitlane is difficult to understand. I was under the limit but then that was compounded by us not serving the penalty at my second stop; that ultimately cost me a lot and left me with zero points again.

  It’s tough to take but I’m not going to give up. Across the last two races, I’ve effectively lost around 40 points. It’s incredibly frustrating but the rest of the season can still look very different. We saw that last year and, in many seasons previous. It’s unfortunate how things have played out so far but I’m aiming to bounce back in Barcelona. I believe in myself and I know what I’m capable of.

  Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal

  Kimi delivered a very controlled race from start to finish today. It was a clean start, strong pace, and above all, very mature driving. It’s exactly what you want to see, and he was a well-deserving winner. Congratulations to him and the team.

  On George’s side, he had done a good job to get back into the battle for the podium but was unfortunate to receive a pitlane speeding penalty. That undid his race unfortunately and the subsequent drive-through penalty for not serving the penalty correctly ended with him out of the points. He has not felt fully confident in the car this weekend and that is on us as a team. We win and lose together, and this is something we will learn from and help him recover from.

  In terms of the bigger picture, we’re not talking about the championship at this stage. There are still many races to go, and while it’s been a positive start overall, we’ll take it step-by- step and see where we stand as the season develops. 

  Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

  Congratulations to Kimi and the team. Winning in Monaco is always a special feeling and one that never comes easy. He had strong pace throughout and allowed us to control an unpredictable and difficult race. 

  George had an unfortunate weekend where few things went his way. He had done a good job to get into a position where he would have been fighting for a podium, however his race unraveled after receiving a penalty for speeding in the pitlane. The timing of the Safety Car posed a challenge to the team to co-ordinate the double stack with little time to react. Having failed to correctly serve the penalty at his second stop, George was handed a drive-through penalty. After the red flag had brought the field together, it turned what would have been a couple of positions dropped into finishing outside of the points. We will analyze our communication and processes to become more resilient to similar situations in future.

  Whilst we leave here with mixed feelings, we can be content with the work done to produce a car that is capable of winning at a unique circuit like this where we have struggled in recent years. We now move on to Barcelona and a very different track; we will be doing everything we can to carry on this run of form. 
   

• Formula One - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2026 Monaco GP. Kimi Antonelli

Saturday M-B Report from Monte Carlo F1 Grand Prix

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2026 Monaco GP. Kimi Antonelli
 

Pole position for Kimi in Monaco

• Kimi Antonelli took pole position for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix with team-mate George Russell qualifying P6.
• It is the team’s first pole in Monaco since Lewis Hamilton qualified fastest in 2019.
• Pole was something of a surprise given the pace of the Ferraris on Friday, but overnight work led to set-up changes that helped get the car in a better place. 
• That delivered an improved performance in FP3 with Kimi topping the timing screens and George ending the final hour of practice in P4.
• Qualifying proved to be a tense affair with contenders for pole showing at various points including Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren along with ourselves.
• The key to unlocking the lap time was getting the right out-lap and prep-lap profile; after taking provisional pole on his first effort, Kimi needed to improve on his last effort and did so to take P1 by 0.043s from the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. 
• George put in a valiant effort despite having a harder time of getting the tyres working fully to go P6 behind the two Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar. 

• Kimi Antonelli

  Pole position in Monaco is an incredible result. The team did an amazing job to get the car in a good place, particularly with the improvements we made overnight after a difficult Friday. It was such a tight fight out there with so many other cars and drivers that looked capable of taking P1. I am delighted to come away with pole therefore and I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.

  Qualifying wasn’t completely straightforward at the start. The car felt a bit on edge but as the session went on, everything started to come together. We made the right adjustments, and I felt much more comfortable with where the car was by the time we got to Q3. That gave me the confidence to really push when it mattered.

  That final segment of the session was extremely tense and you never quite know what to expect. Finding those last few tenths is never easy, especially with Max (Verstappen) so close all the way through. It really came down to nailing the lap at the right moment and I’m very pleased we were able to do that.

  To be on pole here means a lot, but at the same time, it’s only the first step. I know who’s around me on the grid, and I’m sure they’ll be putting on the pressure from the very start. The focus now is on getting a strong launch and managing the race from there. We’ve shown good pace all weekend, which gives me confidence, but Monaco is always unpredictable. I’ll try to stay calm, make the most of the opportunity, and see what we can achieve tomorrow.

  George Russell

  This has been a very challenging weekend for me so far and that continued into qualifying. It has been a bit of a weakness of mine recently and unfortunately it didn’t click this weekend. There were a few good laps across the hour, and FP3 had been promising, but those moments were too few and far between. You need full confidence in the grip level you are getting, particularly around here, and I didn’t quite have that.

  It’s been a frustrating run for me recently and I need to understand why I am struggling to get the tyres working in the way they need to be. Clearly something in my driving style isn’t helping deliver what I need to; it worked well last year but these new generations of car may need something slightly different. I don’t have a clear answer just yet but will work hard with the team to get on top of it. 

  Looking ahead to tomorrow, it could be a long afternoon starting from P6. That said, it’s Monaco and anything can happen so we will stay optimistic and see what we can do.

  Toto Wolff, CEO & Team Principal

  That was an exciting qualifying session and a fantastic lap by Kimi to take pole position. There were many challengers, including the Ferraris and the Red Bulls, but Kimi found something extra when it mattered and delivered with full commitment. It’s been seven years since we’ve been on pole position here and historically, we’ve not been very strong in Monaco. That makes today’s result even more special.

  On George’s side, he has just not been as comfortable in the car this weekend. He has not felt the grip and therefore not had the confidence to push as much as you need to. That is particularly challenging in Monaco where confidence is one of the most important factors for unlocking lap time. We know the ability he has though and it is only a matter of time before he bounces back. He has a great group of people around him and everyone is fully behind him. We’re supporting him every step of the way, and we’re confident he’ll come back stronger.

  Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

  Well done to Kimi and the team on a well-deserved Monaco pole position. It is by far the hardest session of the year to navigate but he did a great job of building sensibly throughout and then saving the best until last with a brilliant final lap. 

  After our struggles on Friday, we had engineers working overnight on the simulator and they found a useful direction that gave the car a bit more stability and predictability. FP3 started well and George was immediately on the pace. Soon both drivers were setting decent lap times and reporting that the balance had improved. We therefore did very little to the cars going into qualifying. 

  On the early laps, both struggled with the circuit having lost a bit of grip and we had a generally messy balance. As the track improved, so did the car for Kimi and by the latter stages he looked like he was in the mix. Unfortunately for George it was an uphill struggle with the tyres never feeling like they were really biting. We're trying to understand why such similar set-ups yielded such different feeling for the two drivers and will work through that in the days to come.

  For now, we need to turn our attentions to the race tomorrow. Starting from pole is only the first step to achieving a good result at Monaco. It's always a long and unpredictable race and there are many situations that we need to protect against if we can win tomorrow. Clearly the goal will be to move George up the field and keep Kimi where he is, but in Monaco that's often easier said than done.