F1 news: Mercedes upgrades renewed Lewis Hamilton's confidence

Mercedes, a team known for its relentless pursuit of performance improvements, introduced the latest iteration of its floor design during the recent United States Grand Prix in Austin. 

These modifications not only aim to enhance lap times for the remaining races in the 2023 season but are also integral in shaping the foundation for the design of next year's car.

The W14, like its predecessor, has presented its drivers, Hamilton and his teammate George Russell, with formidable challenges. Both racers have grappled with varying degrees of confidence issues when navigating high-speed corners.

The race in Austin demonstrated a notable improvement for Hamilton, as he secured a close second place behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen, despite later being disqualified due to excessive wear on the car's floor plank.

Hamilton clarified that the upgrades introduced in Austin are valuable not only for the increased rear downforce they provide but also for the substantial improvement they offer from the driver's perspective. 

"Definitely I think the step that we were able to take this weekend has given me a little bit more confidence in the car, to throw it into the corners," Hamilton said, prior to his disqualification.

"I really enjoyed driving around this track. There are still some of the fundamental issues that we're having with the car, which won't change until next year.

"But it was really positive to feel that the steps that we are taking.

"Maybe it was [worth] only a tenth [as an] upgrade, for example, but there was at least a tenth of confidence that it gave me.

"So, it's quite interesting what you see when you do have those, it's like a double knock-on effect."

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