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Mercedes preparing for reality check in Canada

ESPN Staff
June 3, 2013 « Hankook rules out F1 in 2014 | Kubica takes first WRC2 win »
Mercedes is not expecting another victory this weekend in Montreal © Sutton Images
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Mercedes is keeping its expectations in check ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix at the weekend, despite heading to Montreal off the back of a victory in Monaco.

Nico Rosberg's win on the streets of Monte-Carlo was the team's first of the season and followed four consecutive pole positions. However, with more overtaking opportunities and higher levels of tyre degradation expected in Montreal, executive director Toto Wolff has played down Mercedes' chances this weekend.

"We enjoyed a fantastic weekend in Monaco but, as I have said before, yesterday's home runs don't win tomorrow's games," he said. "We will be heading to Montreal this week with realistic expectations about what we can achieve.

"The high-speed circuit will definitely suit our Mercedes-Benz engine. Our car has been on pole position for the last four races, which shows our basic speed, so the focus in that time has been on improving our performance on Sunday afternoons. We managed this in Monaco, partly thanks to the unique characteristics of the circuit. This weekend will give us a more representative indication of how much progress we have made."

Team principal Ross Brawn said there was still a lot of work for his team to do.

"The last race in Monaco was a very special weekend for our team, and moved us substantially closer to the top three in the Constructors' Championship, but we know the hard work that lies ahead. Both Lewis and Nico have spent time in the factory with us since Monaco and with Paddy Lowe starting at Brackley today [June 3], I'm confident that all efforts are being made to sustain that level of performance."

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