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For a second, all the pieces was arising Mercedes.
Lewis Hamilton’s robust drive in the US Grand Prix noticed him come throughout the road second, behind solely Max Verstappen, which for a time solidified Mercedes’ standing in second place within the System 1 Constructors’ standings. That end additional bolstered the assumption that upgrades to the W14 forward of the USGP would repay not simply of their present struggle with Ferrari, however for his or her 2024 season as nicely.
Then, all the pieces modified. A post-race inspection discovered {that a} plank on the ground of Hamilton’s automobile was not inside the required limits, and following a gathering with race stewards, Mercedes was given the tough information. Hamilton had been disqualified.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was disqualified for a similar motive, however Hamilton’s disqualification dropped him out of a podium place, and pushed Carlos Sainz Jr. up into third.
The top consequence? As a substitute of extending their lead over Ferrari, their rivals reduce into their lead by six factors.
“We are able to take a number of positives from the automobile efficiency as we speak. We hate coming so near profitable and falling quick,” stated Workforce Principal Toto Wolff within the crew’s post-race report. “However this can be a circuit the place only some races in the past we wouldn’t have carried out nicely due to the quick, sweeping corners. The improve appears to have made the automobile happier in these areas and it’s working nicely. Directionally, it’s an excellent signal.
“Turning to the race consequence and the disqualification, set-up decisions on a dash weekend are all the time a problem with only one hour of free apply – and much more so at a bumpy circuit like COTA and working a brand new bundle.
“In the long run, all of that doesn’t matter; others received it proper the place we received it unsuitable and there’s no wiggle room within the guidelines.”
Andrew Shovlin, the crew’s Trackside Engineering Director, outlined how the disqualification occurred. The format for the weekend, which included one of many season’s F1 Dash races, was a contributing issue.
“We’re after all naturally very disenchanted to lose our podium end. Sadly, it is without doubt one of the pitfalls of the dash format the place we have now a solitary hour of working earlier than parc fermé,” stated Shovlin. “With out working at a race gasoline load in FP1, mixed with a circuit as bumpy as this and the elements of the monitor the place the drivers need to put the automobile throughout the Grand Prix, have contributed to the upper than anticipated put on ranges. We’ll go away and be taught from this but in addition take the positives from our expertise as an entire.”
Nonetheless, as Shovlin famous, the weekend was nonetheless a robust signal for the event of subsequent 12 months’s challenger.
“We are able to afford to be cautiously optimistic that the step we have now made will translate into future race. Each drivers felt the development and it’s optimistic for our growth trajectory for 2024,” added Shovlin. “While we’re disenchanted with the last word consequence as we speak, we will be inspired by the tempo proven.”
Nevertheless, in relation to the current, there’s one factor left to do, in response to Wolff.
“We have to take it on the chin, do the educational, and are available again stronger subsequent weekend.”
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