Mercedes' promising upgrade signals a turnaround for 2024 F1 campaign

This revelation comes on the heels of a challenging period for the German outfit, which has found them trailing behind the dominant Red Bull Racing squad since the implementation of new regulations last year.

During this difficult stretch, Mercedes have managed to secure just one Grand Prix victory, leaving fans yearning for their former glory. However, the team's unwavering commitment to development was evident as they unveiled a series of upgrades, with a significant final instalment during the United States Grand Prix, which included the introduction of a new floor.

Shovlin, offering insight after the recent Mexico City Grand Prix, underscored the significance of their recent performances. "If we look at the performance in Austin and Mexico, being able to race cars like McLaren and Ferrari effectively, we'd say that the track data is certainly suggesting that we've made a forward step," noted Shovlin. 

He acknowledged the competitive landscape in Formula 1, stating, "Bear in mind that all of the top teams have been bringing upgrades to their cars over the last few races; it is crucial that you can match them on development, even better to be able to continue to fight them on track."

Shovlin further revealed that the newly-introduced floor in the United States is not merely a stopgap measure but a vital component for Mercedes' long-term strategy. "The other thing is we collect a lot of data off the car," he explained. "Pressures off the floor, pressures off the wings, loads on the car, and all that data is correlating really well with what we're seeing in the wind tunnel. That's crucial for next year because this floor is actually a step in the development direction that we want to take for 2024."

These positive developments indicate that Mercedes are laying the foundation for a resurgence in the upcoming season. However, Shovlin remained pragmatic, emphasizing that there is still considerable work ahead to close the gap with their rivals.

The next Formula 1 event is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. This race, scheduled as a Sprint Race on the weekend of November 3-5, will take place at the iconic Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Brazil. 

 

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