F1 News: Mercedes Reveals New Floor For Austin Grand Prix Reveal
In a season that hasn't quite gone as planned, Mercedes has unveiled a new floor for the W14 at the Austin Grand Prix, a move that aligns with the development trajectory for next year. The reveal, confirmed by Technical Director James Allison, is a strategic step, albeit with moderated expectations, to glean insights into the car’s performance and future potential.
Key Takeaways
- Mercedes' Performance Dilemma: The W14 faced performance inconsistencies and was surpassed by Aston Martin and McLaren, prompting strategic changes.
- Measured Expectations for Austin: The new floor in Austin aims to provide chronometric gains and validate the team’s developmental path, with a cautious outlook from Allison.
- W15 Development Focus: The upcoming W15, a stark revision from the W14, aims to address current technical challenges and aligns closely with driver feedback and future championship aspirations.
- “We will bring a new fund to the track in Austin, but don't expect major steps forward. It will give us a bit of gain from a chronometric point of view, but above all it will help us understand if we are on the right path,” commented Brackley's Technical Director, also speaking to Formu1a Uno.
One of the persistent issues that has plagued the W14 is echoes of the porpoising from the W13, a performance limitation that Mercedes is keen to eradicate.
“We would like to get rid of [bouncing] completely,” said James Allison. "Many teams are still dealing with a bit of bouncing and this can also vary depending on the wind or the wake conditions or not.”
This new floor will allow Mercedes a larger operating window in regards to the downforce they create at different ride heights.
“Last year we designed a car that had to take advantage of ground clearances that were too low, this year too high,” Toto Wolff admitted as the season began. “Now we think we know what and how to choose.”
It's expected that this upgrade won't make a lot of difference this season, but will act as a base for next season's W15 car which will align more with this concept.
“The 2024 car will be important because, given the regulatory changes in 2026, we will still have two years to try to win the world championship and next year's car will also have to be the basis for the following one,” explained Allison for Formu1a Uno.
Mercedes aims to introduce a car that is fundamentally sound from the get-go for 2024, ensuring that unlocking its potential is a smoother process compared to managing a 'capricious diva' like the W14, which was also born with technical limitations.Mercedes, amidst a challenging 2023 season, has revealed a new floor for the W14 at the Austin Grand Prix, not as a giant leap forward, but as a strategic move to understand and pave the way for the development of the 2024 W15.