SINGAPORE: Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, expressed confidence in the team’s prospects for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, following a tough outing at Monza. The W14 faced difficulties at the Temple of Speed, prompting Lewis Hamilton to label it the “worst race” for Mercedes this season.
The team is now setting their sights on a podium finish at Marina Bay, where the high-downforce layout is expected to play to the strengths of their car. Mercedes has been without a podium for four races, marking their longest trophy drought this year since Hamilton’s third-place finish at the British Grand Prix.
During the Monza race, both Hamilton and George Russell grappled with a lack of grip on the track, highlighting the challenges faced. However, the shift from the ultra-low downforce settings of Monza to the maximum downforce environment of Singapore is anticipated to favour Mercedes. The W14 has demonstrated better performance on similar circuits this season.
Shovlin emphasized the team’s optimism, stating, “We’re hoping to be able to be a bit quicker there and get back to a position where we can challenge for podiums.” He noted the unique challenges posed by the Singapore track, including recent layout changes and a longer straight, which affect tire behavior.
The Singapore Grand Prix, set against the backdrop of a night race, presents a demanding combination of abrasive tarmac and a bumpy street circuit. Despite these challenges, Mercedes remains upbeat about their prospects, drawing confidence from their strong showings at high-downforce tracks earlier in the season.
As the team fine-tunes their strategy for the upcoming race, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see if they can make a triumphant return to the podium in Singapore.
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