Mercedes gained’t be capable of run its improve on each automobiles on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix resulting from repairs wanted after George Russell’s qualifying crash at COTA.
Russell crashed closely on the penultimate nook on Saturday, damaging the automotive to such an extent that Mercedes needed to change specification and work via parc ferme hours to arrange it for the race. That led to a pit lane begin for Russell, and workforce principal Toto Wolff says there aren’t sufficient spares of the bundle launched final weekend to permit each drivers to run the improve in Mexico.
“No, we gained’t have [two upgrades],” Wolff mentioned. “We might be lacking the ground that wants to return to the UK after which be repaired for Brazil. So we might be operating the specification [separately].
“On Lewis [Hamilton], usually we might have all of the elements however I’m not 100% positive that he’s eager on operating that. So we’ve received to learn the way we need to sort out that weekend.”
Hamilton spun off early within the USGP on the identical nook Russell crashed and prompt the automotive’s dealing with was a problem, however Wolff mentioned Mercedes might be sticking with the brand new elements and making an attempt to grasp why its type is fluctuating a lot.
“I don’t assume we now have a elementary subject on the improve, very a lot,” he mentioned. “I feel it’s extra interplay on aero and on mechanical stuff, and due to this fact we’re going to proceed with the improve. It is senseless to not, as a result of there’s numerous lap time you permit on the desk, however on the opposite facet it is advisable be very open-minded.
“George drove the July improve [at COTA] as a result of we didn’t have the ground and that appeared fairly aggressive within the race. Having mentioned that, if you happen to’re lacking a couple of tenths in qualifying, that makes a giant distinction as a result of it’s simply not so good as it ought to be.
“So it’s extra about actually getting on prime of, why do we now have a automotive that on Friday is by far the quickest – earlier than the [Franco] Colapinto scenario – it was four-tenths up and the final sector was simply hassle however he would have been quickest, after which on Saturday it’s remodeled.
“Within the Dash race, we had a damaged suspension. That’s one rationalization. We fastened that within the qualifying, nothing would go anymore and we struggled to have tempo. [On Sunday] an incident in that nook that got here out of nowhere. He was not pushing in any respect. So the place I sit for the time being it’s 100% not Lewis’ fault and that’s to not say that I’m defending him.
“It’s clear it was gusty, there was a slipstream. How does all of that work together? How does Ferrari come from nearly written off earlier than the summer time after which turns it round that they’ve a dominant automotive ending one-two? Heads-up by the way in which to Fred and his workforce. Actually spectacular what they’re doing.”
Mercedes has additionally introduced that its 2025 driver Kimi Antonelli will participate in FP1 on Friday in Mexico Metropolis, becoming a member of Ollie Bearman at Ferrari and Pato O’Ward within the McLaren as rookies participating.
