Mercedes is gradually moving in the right direction with the development of their W14 car this year. Since last year, the team did not have much luck with their car after the 2021 season, as they got their only victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix last year. Although this time, Mercedes is working through slow conceptual changes in the car. However, a race victory still awaits the former champions.
On the other hand, rivals of the Silver Arrows, Red Bull, have won all the races so far. They are lucky to have the fastest car on the grid at present. The current double-time champion, Max Verstappen, is giving no chance to any other driver to get to the top. But Lewis Hamilton, the former champion, managed to get three podiums in this challenging time for the team this season. George Russell, 25, earned a podium for the Brackley team in Spain. It is evident that W14 is showing improvements since the upgrades made at the Monaco Grand Prix. And now, the former champions are targeting the upcoming races in Austria and Silverstone for better results.
Mercedes Hopes To Do Better In Upcoming Two Grands Prix
The new upgrades to the w14 car, which consist of new side pods plus front and floor suspension, are helping the two Mercedes drivers. Lewis Hamilton in Monte Carlo also mentioned that “The car feels good even on a track that is not suitable for testing modifications.” Since then, the trajectory of the W14 car’s development has been in the upward direction. Toto Wolff also mentioned that the team is looking to implement a couple more upgrades before the summer break. Apparently, the F1 teams will get some relief from the pressures of Grand Prix weekends after the next four races. But Mercedes will try to get better performance from W14 before the summer break.
Hence, the team is targeting the next Grand Prix in Austria and the one in Silverstone for a better result, perhaps a win after a long time. Reportedly, in the British Grand Prix, Mercedes will implement a major upgrade. But the thing that has been bothering the Brackley team is their pace around the low-speed corners, and W14 needs more rear downforce. The chief technical officer of the Silver Arrows, Mike Elliot, suggests that the team is looking for tracks that provide more high and medium-speed content. Hence, the British and the Austrian Grand Prix will suit the Mercedes W14 car the best. Apparently, the Brackley team gained confidence after performing better than expected in Canada.
The Canadian Grand Prix Was A Big Positive For The Former Champions
Moreover, the aerodynamicist Mike Elliot explained why the former champions gained more confidence after the Canadian Grand Prix. The Mercedes team had their first double podium in Barcelona. But the team was not letting themselves get complacent. Moreover, Barcelona has always been a lucky track for Mercedes. But the Canadian Grand Prix was more crucial.
The Montreal track is not as easy as the one in Spain. Moreover, Mercedes had a tough time last year in Spain with their engine breaking down. However, this year, Lewis Hamilton had a P3 finish, and George Russell was doing well initially until he crashed into the wall. But the Mercedes team is happy with the pace and looks to work on increasing it every race.