Mercedes has revealed that they are making changes to their W14 car in an effort to make it more drivable ahead of the upcoming Baku Sprint weekend.
The Baku street circuit is one of the most challenging tracks on the Formula One calendar. Moreover, with the addition of the sprint race, the level of difficulty will just advance. Hence, the teams are working hard behind the scenes during the April break to make the car more sturdy and resistible. Meanwhile, the Sprint weekend will be a crucial test for Mercedes as they look to turn their season around and get back to winning ways.
Mercedes finally saw a ray of hope after the Australian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton got the team the first podium of the season and earned a few crucial points in the constructors’ championship. However, his teammate, George Russell, faced early retirement due to engine failure. Nonetheless, the team is pumped after the recent results and making further upgrades for the crucial weekend in Baku.
Mercedes Wants To “Land The W14 In The Right Place” During Baku Weekend
The Silver Arrows struggled with the new W14 during the initial test runs of the season. However, owing to timely upgrades, the team managed to close the gap to the second-best time on the grid, Aston Martin. However, the Red Bulls are still far from their reach. Nonetheless, the team of engineers is working hard in this four-week break to further make the car more drivable. Mercedes’ Chief Technical Officer, James Allison, spoke about the team’s future plan during the post-race debrief video.
He said the Silver Arrows would focus on upgrading a few technical components of W14. For starters, the engineers are looking to change the suspensions of the car to bring more balance and make it comfortable for the drivers to drive with ease and confidence. Recently, Lewis Hamilton complained of a sense of disconnect with the W14, and hence, these new upgrades might be able to rebuild that connection. Moreover, Allison says the team is taking the upcoming Sprint weekend very seriously. He feels the Baku race could benefit the team a lot if they get the right starting set-up. Hence, the team is hoping for a good show next weekend.
Geroge Russell Confirms W14’s Promising Gains
Meanwhile, young British driver, George Russell, has lauded the team’s efforts. He said the W14 is making more performance gains in the past week than it ever did during the winter break. However, he refused to share any specific details. The Briton feels the team chose to move in the wrong direction at the start of the season. But after early setbacks, the Silver Arrows now figured out the right path, and he is confident of desirable results in the near future.
Mercedes will be hoping that the changes to the W14 will give them the edge they need to compete with their rivals at the front of the grid. The team has been dominant in recent years, winning seven consecutive Constructors’ Championships between 2014 and 2020. But they have faced stiffer competition in 2023 from teams like Red Bull and Aston Martin, and also Ferrari, for that matter.
