Toto Wolff takes comfort in Mercedes’ upgrades finally shining despite Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification at the US GP

Mercedes used 2024 design concept elements in their upgrades. of W14 at COTA

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff (Via IMAGO)

Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team boss, remains resolute despite Lewis Hamilton’s disqualification setback in the United States GP. His message is clear, and he believes that Mercedes is heading in the right direction, and a single stumble won’t deter them. Despite an unfavorable penalty, the team hopes their development trajectory will overcome the recent setback.

Mercedes’ recent upgrades at the Circuit of the Americas aimed to enhance their car’s performance and downforce. The new floor design, with its extended leading edge, promises improved airflow quality to the car’s rear. In contrast, adjustments to the floor body and edges increase load support for enhanced performance. These modifications were claimed to be the last of the major upgrades of their W14 in the 2023 season.

Toto Wolff on Mercedes’ slow pit-stops:

“We need to avoid very slow pitstops. We realise that we just need to ramp up our game up there, in terms of equipment and science around it, and the way we are set up, to avoid 3 or 3.5 seconds pitstops because all of that plays a part.” pic.twitter.com/xofvkIXpzu
— Mercedes-AMG F1 News (@MercedesNewsUK) October 23, 2023

The upgrades proved fruitful as Mercedes transformed from a team that traditionally struggled on tracks with fast and medium-speed corners. Hamilton came within a whisker of victory, relentlessly chasing down Max Verstappen and finishing just a second and a half behind him. However, their happiness was dashed as the post-race inspection found an issue with the car’s floor, leading to Hamilton’s disqualification and a drop from the podium.

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In the face of this disappointment, Toto Wolff emphasized the positives. Despite the disqualification, the Austrian didn’t dwell on the past but looked ahead

We can take a lot of positives from the car performance today...We need to take it on the chin, do the learning, and come back stronger next weekend,

Wolff said, as reported by SB Nation.

The Circuit of the Americas would’ve been a challenging terrain for Mercedes in the past, but the upgrades seemed to address those issues. The car now navigated fast, sweeping corners more adeptly, signaling a promising trajectory for the 2024 season.

Toto Wolff accepts the misfortune and aims to come back stronger in Mexico

Mercedes and Ferrari are in a fierce battle for second place in the standings, trailing behind Red Bull. Mercedes gained an advantage with a strong podium finish and George Russell‘s seventh place. However, when Charles Leclerc and Hamilton were disqualified, Ferrari took the lead, with Carlos Sainz moving up to the podium and Russell to fifth place.

The points gap, once over 31 points in favor of Mercedes, has now narrowed to 22. The team boss praised Mercedes for nailing it with minimal testing—a significant positive from the race.

Mercedes may have faced a setback with Hamilton’s disqualification, but their focus remains on the future. The upgrades introduced at the Circuit of the Americas demonstrate their commitment to improvement. It will be interesting to watch what will happen at this weekend’s race in Mexico and if Mercedes can repeat their pace.