Mercedes plan Miami 'experiments'

Mercedes

Mercedes plan Miami 'experiments'

Mercedes has so far struggled to get to grips with the latest F1 regulations

Sam Hall

Wednesday 4 May 2022 10:35 Updated: 13:53

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Toto Wolff has revealed Mercedes will 'experiment' in Miami as the team looks to confirm its development path.

Mercedes has struggled to get to grips with this year's new technical regulations, with the team trailing constructors' championship leaders Ferrari by 47 points after just four events.

A major source of the Silver Arrow's issues has been the porpoising phenomenon with Mercedes' 'disappearing sidepod' concept appearing to make the problem harder to solve.

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Following the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Wolff conceded Mercedes may need to reconsider its concept.

But ahead of the inaugural Miami race, the team principal explained: "Since we returned from Italy, we've learned as much from the weekend as we can and, in parallel, our learning has continued in the wind tunnel and simulations.

"We have found several directions for improving the car, and we will be conducting experiments in Miami to correlate those simulations, and hopefully confirm the development path for the coming races. "Both drivers have been working in the simulator ahead of Miami and the factories have been busy producing updates for the next races."

Mercedes "determined" to put things right

Although George Russell is the only driver to have finished inside the top five at each race so far, Mercedes is all too aware that these results have often only been possible due to the misfortune of others.

Lewis Hamilton has similarly benefitted although not at Imola where the seven-time champion was unable to recover from his early qualifying elimination.

Reflecting on the difficulties of the season so far, Wolff added: "The saying 'smooth seas do not make good sailors' comes to mind.

"This team has shown its resilience over many years and the difficult start to this season has lit a fire within every team member, determined to put it right."