F1 News: Las Vegas GP Poses Unique Challenge For Mercedes According To Insider

Mercedes faces a race against the elements and the unknown as they approach the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a challenge according to Riccardo Musconi.

Mercedes' preparation for the Las Vegas Grand Prix is tinged with apprehension as Riccardo Musconi, Head of Trackside Performance, signals potential complications due to unexpected weather conditions. 

Key Takeaways:

• Riccardo Musconi of Mercedes identifies the weather as a pivotal factor in the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix, suggesting it could introduce additional obstacles for the team.
• The absence of historical data for the Las Vegas track is a concern for all teams, prompting Mercedes to undertake extensive preparatory work to tackle the uncertainties.
• As Mercedes strives to solidify their second-place standing in the constructors' championship, the pressure mounts, especially following a tough Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.

Mercedes' Head of Trackside Performance, Riccardo Musconi, has brought to light potential difficulties that the team might face at the much-awaited Las Vegas Grand Prix to the Formula 1 race calendar after a hiatus since 1982. The event is surrounded by an air of expectancy but also significant concern, with the challenge of the unknown looming over the grid due to a lack of historical data. Musconi addressed these concerns directly, stating:

“Well, it’s a complete new ball game. The weather is going to play a big part in it. It is quite cold at this time of the year in Vegas, especially with the sessions happening around midnight, and the tyres we have the softest selection of tyres in Vegas. So that is adding an extra dimension to the problem."

He further added: 

"The truth is, every team to some degree, will venture into the unknown because we don’t have any previous data. So, the preparation work we are conducting at the factory will have to cover different dimensions, different aspects of it more than we usually do for other tracks.”

Mercedes, with the end of the season in sight, is determined to maintain their second-place ranking in the constructors' championship. However, they cannot disregard the challenge posed by Ferrari, which is only 20 points behind. This pursuit of points comes in the wake of a disappointing Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where Mercedes endured a 'miserable' weekend, with Lewis Hamilton finishing eighth and George Russell having to retire from the race. Hamilton’s own words post-race were telling: "two more races with this thing and hopefully no more driving it" — a clear indication of his thoughts on the current car.

As the Las Vegas Grand Prix draws near, Mercedes is keen to bounce back from their Brazilian setbacks. Nonetheless, the unpredictability of the upcoming race adds to the pressure.