Mercedes commit to ongoing W14 upgrades in battle for P2 in Constructors' Standings
- Rob Fleming
- 28 September 2023
Mercedes' commitment to refine their W14 Formula 1 car until the season's end has been confirmed by their head of race strategy, Rosie Wait.
The Brackley-based team, though faced with challenges since the introduction of ground-effect aerodynamics last year, remain determined to secure their position in the Constructors' table and propel Lewis Hamilton to the top of the Drivers' standings.
The team's recent struggle stemmed from a design philosophy carried over from the previous season, which left them lagging behind in the hunt for race victories. However, a pivotal moment came at the Monaco Grand Prix when Mercedes introduced a radical upgrade package, bidding farewell to the controversial 'zeropod' concept.
This move, led by the skilful Lewis Hamilton, elevated the Silver Arrows to second place in the Constructors' standings, with Hamilton himself trailing only the Red Bull duo in the Drivers' championship.
Amidst speculation of a complete pivot towards the 2025 season, Rosie Wait clarified the team's approach: "This decision is never as black and white as it seems. While we will have to use the winter to make more fundamental developments to W15, there are plenty of things we can do with the current car which will both make it faster and aid our learning and understanding to develop next year's car - that's what we've already been doing and will continue to do."
"The new parts we bring to the track do both; hopefully add performance and make the current car go faster, but they are all specifically targeted around areas where we need to further our understanding. The things we will learn from testing them this year will directly feed into the development of the W15."
Mercedes' quest for second place in the Constructors' standings has intensified, even as Aston Martin grapple with a drop in performance. Ferrari have mounted a resurgence with strong showings, culminating in Carlos Sainz's victory at the Singapore Grand Prix. The points gap between Mercedes and Ferrari currently stands at a mere 20 points.
Rosie Wait emphasized the significance of this battle for P2 in the championship: "We also mustn't lose sight of the fact that we are in a tight battle for P2 with Ferrari, and that position in the championship is really important to all of us. So, we have upgrades in the pipeline and will continue to be bringing them to the car."
The next thrilling encounter in the Formula 1 season is the Qatar Grand Prix, slated for the weekend of October 6-8. This race will unfold at the Losail International Circuit, a permanent venue situated just outside of Lusail, north of Doha.
