UNITED KINGDOM: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has opened up about the upgrades expected on the Mercedes W14 for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
The team is looking to make up ground on Red Bull, which has dominated the start of the 2023 season.
After a disappointing start to the year, Wolff ordered significant changes to the car, and Formula 1’s return to Europe will see more significant upgrades added to the W14.
The team is currently in the chasing pack, alongside Ferrari and Aston Martin, and hopes the upgrades will enable it to mount a challenge against the Red Bull drivers.
Wolff said that the team needs to manage everybody’s expectations because everybody is excited about the upgrade.
He made it clear that the car will not challenge the Red Bull immediately, but it will be a good baseline.
Wolff revealed that the W14’s front suspension and associated aero upgrades and floor would be changing, hoping to offer Lewis Hamilton and George Russell a more stable platform to drive from.
He believes that giving the drivers a car that doesn’t oversteer in corners will help reel in Red Bull, and from there, the team can catch up.
He said that if the team gets the car’s platform right, it is less about increasing its downforce and more about giving the drivers a stable car.
Once the team finds a solution for the poor ride quality of the car, they expect to catch up to the lead team like they did last year.
In the budget cap era of Formula 1, Wolff also noted that the team had to be careful about the upgrades it chooses to bring, as other teams are also limited in terms of the upgrades they can make.
While Wolff hopes the upgrades will enable Mercedes to catch up to Red Bull, he acknowledges that it won’t happen overnight.
The team must continue to work hard and make smart decisions to close the gap.
The Mercedes’ upgrades for the W14 will face the test at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which takes place on the weekend of 19-21 May, following the Miami Grand Prix.
Also Read: Mercedes Boss Wolff Says Upgrades Are Coming to Close Gap with Red Bull
