Formula 1 Upgrades in Full Swing: Mercedes Brings Lighter Floor to Spanish GP
This weekend’s Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix has seen teams bringing significant upgrades to their machines, with Mercedes being no exception. Despite not listing any upgrades on the FIA’s official car presentation document, the Brackley-based team has reportedly brought a lighter floor to the Barcelona circuit.
Barcelona’s demanding track is often considered the perfect venue to assess a Formula 1 car’s true performance, making it an ideal location for teams to introduce upgrades. Ferrari and Red Bull have taken this approach, bringing seven and six revisions to their cars, respectively. However, Mercedes’ decision not to list any upgrades on the document raised eyebrows among the media.
Team Principal Toto Wolff clarified the situation during Friday’s press conference, hinting that the team had brought “quite a bit” to the race, albeit not visible upgrades. Wolff emphasized the importance of adding performance at every Grand Prix, citing that even marginal gains of a few milliseconds could make a significant difference.
“We have brought quite a bit to the race, but it’s not visible upgrades. Every single race, we try to add performance, even if it’s a few milliseconds.”
Motorsport.com has reported that Mercedes’ upgrade is, in fact, a lighter iteration of its floor, which remains unchanged in shape and geometry. This technicality explains why the upgrade was not listed on the FIA document, as only items with modified shapes or geometries require disclosure.
The lighter floor is expected to bring performance benefits, which will be crucial in Mercedes’ bid to climb back up the Formula 1 pecking order. The eight-time Constructors’ champions ended Friday on a high note, with Lewis Hamilton topping Free Practice 2. The British driver praised the car’s improved performance, stating that “the car’s feeling really great.”
Mercedes has shown promising signs in recent races, with George Russell finishing fourth in Monaco and securing pole position and a third-place finish in Canada. The team’s progress has been incremental, with Wolff revealing that they have brought upgrades to every race since Imola. The combination of aero and mechanical upgrades has contributed to better lap times, with the car’s smooth ride and handling over bumps and kerbs being particular strong points.
As the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix unfolds, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see how their latest upgrade affects their performance. Can they continue their upward trend and challenge the likes of Red Bull and McLaren? Only time will tell.
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