Mercedes is all smiles about the fresh vibe their new floor is bringing to the track, and they’re dropping hints that the lessons learned in the final races of 2023 are like gold nuggets for their 2024 game plan.
Picture this: the Silver Arrows rolled out a swanky update to the W14’s floor in Austin, and it’s not just jazzing up this year’s ride; it’s also a sneak peek into what’s cooking for the 2024 W15. With two races already in the bag, Mercedes is high-fiving the results from the revamped floor, seeing it as a preview of the glory to come next year.
Now, Mercedes has been out of the title tango for a couple of seasons, but they’re on a mission to whip up a beast of a car for 2024. Behind the scenes at Brackley, it’s all hands on deck. And guess what? Some of that wizardry is out in the open, especially the spiffy new floor that boasts a raised leading edge and a swanky reprofiling of the venturi tunnel roof.
James Allison, the maestro behind the technical design, is stoked about what’s unfolding. Post-Lewis Hamilton snagging a podium in Mexico City, he spilled the beans, saying, “Looking at the performance in Austin and here [Mexico], racing against the likes of McLaren and Ferrari effectively, the track data is telling us we’ve taken a step forward.”
Hold your horses, though, because Allison knows the F1 game isn’t a walk in the park. With the top teams unleashing updates left and right, staying in the race means not just matching them but outshining them on the development front. And guess what? They’re soaking up loads of data from the car – floor pressures, wing pressures, car loads – and it’s syncing up like a symphony with what’s going down in the wind tunnel.
Why is this crucial? Well, that flashy new floor isn’t just for show; it’s a sneak peek into the future. Allison spills the tea, “This floor is actually a step towards the development direction we want to take for 2024.” So, yes, the signs are encouraging, but the road ahead is still a winding one.
Now, let’s rewind a bit. The tale of the W13 and W14 wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Flawed designs, data discrepancies – it was like a plot twist in an F1 thriller. It took until the Canadian Grand Prix this year for the stars to align, and the team finally recalibrated their equipment. Toto Wolff, the man in charge, explains, “Now what the car does on track lines up with our simulations, and it hasn’t done that for a year and a half.”
But, hey, there’s no room for complacency. Wolff keeps it real, acknowledging that Alonso in the Aston Martin is still a contender, and Max is flexing his muscles up front. It’s not just about third or fourth place; it’s the full-throttle pursuit of excellence. The F1 saga continues!
