Following the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, it has been confirmed by Sky Sports that Mercedes will now introduce their new concept at next weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, with its introduction having initially been scheduled for Imola.
It was announced on Wednesday by Formula 1 that this weekend’s sixth round of the 2023 championship had been cancelled, due to the torrential rainfall that the Emilia-Romagna region has experienced.
The horrific weather has caused widespread flooding and landslides in the region, tragically resulting in the loss of several lives.
Cancelling the Grand Prix was seen widely as the only option, given how stretched the emergency services are.
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It means the paddock will be packed up and transported to Monaco, ready for next weekend’s iconic GP at the Circuit de Monaco.
Delays aren’t currently expected; however, the situation is developing daily.
For Mercedes, their wait to introduce the new concept of the W14 goes on, with it now set to be unveiled in Monaco.
With Monaco being such a niche circuit, many wondered if the Silver Arrows would delay their new concept until the Spanish Grand Prix, which takes place in a fortnight.
The Brackley-based team likely won’t get a true picture of whether the new concept is a success or not in Monaco, with overtaking at the narrow street circuit being virtually impossible.
Perhaps Mercedes’ choice to introduce the concept in Monaco is a sign of confidence, with the Germans potentially believing that their new concept will suit the street circuit better than the current W14.
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On the flip side, it could result in the team struggling more than they already have done this season, given that they’ll only have data from the simulator.
One thing that is for certain, is that Mercedes have nothing to lose in regard to their performance, with Red Bull and Aston Martin having the edge over them.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will need to be somewhat careful, though, with damage to the new concept certainly not being needed before Barcelona, a venue they’ll be able to test the new concept’s performance at.