Mercedes Chief confirms substantial upgrades for the United States Grand Prix

Now that 12 years have passed since they re-entered Formula 1 as a factory team, Mercedes is set to introduce substantial upgrades at the United States Grand Prix in Texas. Team boss Toto Wolff confirmed these developments as Mercedes look to end the 20234 season on a strong note despite being out of championship contention.

This race, taking place at the Circuit of the Americas, marks the start of an intense end to the season with six races over the next eight weeks, culminating in Abu Dhabi. Wolff would like to give Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving the team at the end of the season, the farewell he deserves.

Mercedes has reviewed their performance since Singapore to identify areas for improvement. As a result, they plan to roll out their final update package of the season at the Texas Grand Prix.

“We have therefore been working hard since Singapore to analyze our performance and see how we can improve it,” said Wolff. These upgrades, which include a new underfloor, a revised front wing and updated sidepods, are aimed at closing the performance gap with the leading teams. The new underlay is designed to improve load consistency around medium-speed turns, while the front wing upgrade focuses on improving airflow and stability around low-speed turns. The sidepods update, with an ‘overbite’ style, aims to increase airflow efficiency and provide valuable data that will inform the development of the 2025 car.

The Texas Grand Prix also marks the return of the sprint racing format. This fast, bumpy track presents significant challenges for both car and driver, a fact that Mercedes found to their detriment last year. COTA is characterized by demanding features such as a 40-meter elevation change in turn one and intense braking in turn 12, requiring drivers to endure more than 5 Gs of force. Mercedes must overcome these difficulties while implementing their upgrades effectively, as Wolff emphasizes:

“The Sprint format returns this weekend and we will have to do our best to introduce the update package effectively.”

Although the United States Grand Prix has an impact on the technical front, it has a historic connection with both Mercedes and their driver, Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton is the most successful driver at COTA, with five wins, and the circuit was the stage for two of his world championships in 2015 and 2019. As Hamilton prepares to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, it adds an emotional dimension to the The team’s goal is to end the season on a high note and appropriately say goodbye to an important era of success.

“We want to finish this year as strong as possible, build momentum for 2025 and say goodbye to Lewis in the best possible way,” said Wolff.

Furthermore, the 2024 Grand Prix in Texas marks major milestones for Mercedes and PETRONAS, with both entities celebrating their 300th race since the start of their partnership in 2010.