Lewis Hamilton just conveyed his satisfaction with the floor upgrade of his W14, describing it as one of the first substantial improvements he’s felt in over two years. This reaction carries significant implications for Mercedes F1, signaling that they may be on the right track for the future, especially the fact that it was instrumental in giving the driver a P3 start at the upcoming United States Grand Prix.
The Upgrade: A Glimpse into Mercedes’ Development
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 introduced a new car floor for the US GP, aiming to enhance performance. Technical director James Allison referred to this update as a “bellwether for whether we’re on the right track.”
The enthusiastic response of Lewis Hamilton indicates that the team may indeed be heading in the right direction, not just for the current season but for the upcoming year. The development included modifications to the floor body, venturi tunnel roof, and the forward floor edge flap to improve load distribution and generate more rear downforce.
The Perspective of Lewis Hamilton
During the qualifying session at Austin, Hamilton qualified third, just 0.139 seconds behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. What’s particularly noteworthy is that the Briton, despite having only one practice session to get acquainted with the upgrade, expressed his contentment. He acknowledged the hard work put in by the team to bring these improvements to the car.
While some might find it contradictory that he mentioned the car felt “almost the same” and yet considered it one of the first upgrades he truly felt, it is a testament to his ability to discern the performance improvement almost immediately.
Team Consensus
Interestingly, Hamilton’s sentiments were not solitary. His teammate, George Russell, also attested to the positive impact of the upgrade, even though he mentioned some rear-end stability issues.
Their unanimous approval reinforces the effectiveness of the floor upgrade. In the words of Andrew Shovlin, the trackside engineering director, “the upgraded floor looks to be giving us what we hoped for.” This alignment between the drivers and the engineering team is a promising sign for Mercedes’ future endeavors.
Looking Ahead to 2024
Hamilton was cautious about making bold predictions for the next season but expressed confidence in Mercedes’ ability to make the necessary performance gains. He emphasized that while the floor upgrade represents progress, it’s just one step, and several areas of the car can still be improved.
In his words in an interview with Motorsport.com, “This is one of the first upgrades that I’ve actually felt over the last two years. So that’s a positive. We just need two or three times this step to put us in super-competitive mode – which I believe the guys can do.”
Final Thoughts
The positive response of Lewis Hamilton to the performance boost of the W14 signifies that Mercedes F1 might be on the right track for future success. This confirmation, as indicated by the seven-time champ’s enthusiasm, aligns with the team’s efforts to regain a competitive edge in the sport.
While the upgrade might not have transformed the car drastically, it certainly demonstrates that the reality aligns well with the team’s simulation tools. As we await further developments over the coming races, it becomes clear that the path Mercedes takes in the near future will significantly define their performance in the 2024 season.