Deploy Folding Table of contents
Mercedes faced a disappointing weekend in Austin, Texas. Despite a promising start on Friday, where George Russell nearly secured the sprint pole position, the remainder of the event yielded little success. Following a rather unremarkable sprint race, Russell damaged his upgraded W15 during qualifying, while teammate Lewis Hamilton struggled significantly, spinning out early and ending his Grand Prix. Team principal Toto Wolff expressed his disappointment over the team’s notable slump in performance.
Astonishing Turnaround for Ferrari
“This is not good at all,” stated Wolff in an interview with the German division of Sky Sports after the race. “Before the summer break, we were the fastest team, but since then we’ve lost our way a bit. Ferrari, on the other hand, has done a complete 180.” The Italian team didn’t roll out significant upgrades during the U.S. Grand Prix but remarkably achieved a one-two finish on Sunday. “This is genuinely one of my worst weekends ever,” Wolff lamented, referring to it as a “sporting low point.”
Rebuilding From Setbacks
George Russell managed to limit the damage somewhat by finishing sixth. In contrast, Hamilton found it challenging to adapt to the new upgrades and ultimately spun off early in the race. “I don’t think the upgrades have fundamental flaws,” Wolff later clarified. “It’s more about the interaction between the aerodynamic and mechanical components. Therefore, we will continue to develop this update.”
Supply Chain Issues on the Horizon
The aftermath of Russell’s crash has left Mercedes grappling with a shortage of parts. It seems inevitable that the team will have to race with two different specifications at the upcoming Mexico race. “It’s clear that we will miss a floor,” Wolff explained. “That will have to go back to the UK for repairs before Brazil. Logically, Lewis (Hamilton) would continue with the new parts, but I’m not sure if he is completely on board with that. We will need to discuss it further.”
Tainted by Uncharacteristic Mistakes
Hamilton’s early race troubles were surprising, as he ended up in the gravel shortly after the start. Describing it as an unusual mistake, he reflected on the race’s events. According to Toto Wolff, the incident primarily stemmed from the new technical upgrades. “He wasn’t even pushing, so I don’t think this could truly be considered a mistake by Lewis. Our pace was lackluster across the board,” he concluded.
As Mercedes grapples with its current challenges, the focus shifts to overcoming setbacks and regaining competitiveness in future races. The team is determined to harness its potential and address the shortcomings evident in Austin. With upcoming races, notably in Mexico, the expectations will be high as fans and analysts alike anticipate a turnaround in performance.
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