Mercedes Awaits Accurate Assessment of Formula 1 Upgrades at Spanish Grand Prix
Mercedes believes it will only get a true measure of the progress made from its recent Formula 1 upgrades at the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix. The team has been working to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season, with zero podium finishes in the opening eight races.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, is optimistic that recent developments have bridged the gap to its rivals and put the team back on a “positive direction”. George Russell utilized a revised front wing design at the Monaco Grand Prix, which contributed to Mercedes’ second top-five race result this term.
However, Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes Trackside Engineering Director, cautioned that it’s too early to gauge the full impact of the upgrades, citing the unique nature of the Monaco circuit.
“There’s a reason teams don’t normally bring update kits to Monaco, which is the very low-speed nature of the circuit,” Shovlin explained in a video on Mercedes’ YouTube channel. “The fact it’s so busy, the short straights, it’s very hard to actually evaluate anything. All the data we have seen, though, says that it was delivering performance, it was bringing a benefit in terms of how the car was feeling. George was happy with that and he could feel that it was a step in the right direction.”
Shovlin confirmed that Mercedes will introduce more parts in Canada this weekend, including the tweaked front wing design that Lewis Hamilton opted not to use. “We’re certainly hoping to build on the momentum that we’ve had recently,” Shovlin said. “We’ve really been closing down that gap to the front.”
Mercedes is focusing on improving its one-lap pace at the next round in Montreal, despite passing being possible at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. “In terms of the track itself, it’s been completely resurfaced,” Shovlin noted. “Probably we’re going to see similar issues with the graining that we had in Monaco.”
The team’s aim is to maintain the momentum they’ve gained in recent races and continue to bridge the gap to the front of the Formula 1 standings. With the Spanish Grand Prix on the horizon, Mercedes is eager to see the full impact of its upgrades and make further strides in the Formula 1 calendar. As the team prepares for the next round, fans can expect an exciting battle in the Formula 1 news landscape.
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