F1 News: Mercedes Confirm When Fans Can Expect W14 Upgrades After Imola GP Cancellation
Mercedes is forging ahead with their planned upgrades for the Monaco Grand Prix, originally intended for the cancelled Emilia Romagna GP. Formula 1 announced the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix due to severe flooding in the area, affecting the race weekend. Despite the setback, Mercedes and several other teams were prepared to introduce a series of upgrades at the Imola race.
The Brackley-based squad had labelled these upgrades as an initial step towards recovering their competitive edge after a challenging start to the 2023 season. Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' Trackside Engineering Director, stated prior to the race cancellation:
"What we are going to be bringing to the track in Imola is the first step of that work... We are looking to head off in a different development direction, one that we think gives us a better chance in the long term of being able to challenge for race wins and World Championships."
Following the cancellation, there was speculation that Mercedes might delay the introduction of their upgrades until the Spanish Grand Prix, scheduled one week after Monaco. However, according to Motorsport Week, a Mercedes spokesperson has confirmed that the upgrades will be brought in for the Monaco GP.
This decision comes despite the unique challenges posed by the low-speed nature of the Monaco circuit. The circuit's characteristics may make it more difficult to fully understand the potential of the upgrades. Additionally, the narrow circuit and the higher probability of crashes raise concerns about potential damage to the new parts if a driver makes contact with the walls.
It is yet to be confirmed whether other teams who were due to bring in upgrades for Emilia Romagna will be bringing them to Monaco, although it has been reported that Ferrari will be delaying their upgrades to Spain.