Mercedes Technical Director James Allison has revealed that the team’s forthcoming floor upgrade, set to debut at the Austin Grand Prix, plays a pivotal role in determining their path to success in the 2024 season.
While Mercedes has experienced a somewhat improved season compared to the challenging 2022 campaign, which marked the introduction of new ground effect regulations, they remain overshadowed by the dominance of Red Bull, who have clinched their second consecutive championship victory.
Mercedes currently maintains the second spot in F1’s Constructors’ standings, sitting comfortably 28 points ahead of Ferrari.
Their resolute determination to hold on to the runner-up position fuels a continuous pursuit of advancements for their W14 contender.
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These upgrades serve not only to bolster their present performance but also to lay the foundation for a return to the forefront of the field in 2024.
James Allison emphasised the significance of the impending floor enhancement, stating, “Hopefully it will give us a bit of lap time.
“That’s always a benefit.
“But it is mostly a useful thing because it’s a bellwether for whether we’re on the right track.
“In lap time terms, it will be small.
“Useful, but don’t expect us to have leapt past Max [Verstappen].”
This pragmatic approach underscores Mercedes’ recognition of the challenges they face in catching up to their rivals.
Allison believes that Mercedes has cultivated a profound understanding of the W14, particularly in identifying its weaknesses.
With this clarity, the team can effectively channel their efforts toward the forthcoming season.
Nonetheless, Allison concedes that the ultimate test of their improvements will unfold in due time.
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He stated, “I think that much of what ails us now is reasonably well-understood, and we’re working to fix that.
“This championship, while we haven’t made the really impressive progress that McLaren have, we have nevertheless been charting a path through the season that gives us a very clear idea of what we need to put right.
“So that makes the next years fun, very exciting to look forward to, and actually this period of the year extremely enjoyable.”