Merc eye step-up in Japan | Planet F1 | Formula One | News, Standings, Results, Features, Video
Wednesday 28th September 2011
Mercedes GP hope to see the benefits of their latest aerodynamic upgrades during the final five races of the season.
The team introduced the updates to the W02 before this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, but although the numbers point in the right direction the team didn't see it in the results as they could only manage a P7 through Nico Rosberg.
Team boss Ross Brawn, though, is convinced they will start seeing the improvements from Japan onwards as Singapore's Marina Bay Street Circuit didn't quite suit the car's downforce levels.
"I don't think we advertised it as a big upgrade, but it was an upgrade. It seemed okay," said Brawn.
"It may not look as though our relative position has changed, but if you think back to Hungary, which was the last high downforce track, we struggled.
"So far the numbers look like we have moved forward and I think we will see the benefit in the next couple of races in particular, so it looks okay.
"We are reasonably happy with it, but it is a very difficult track to assess these things on. When we get to the next couple of tracks it should be better."
As for the updates itself, Brawn explained that the changes weren't cutting edge.
"There were several detailed aerodynamic improvements - with bodywork and tuning," he said. "It was nothing radical - just going through the loop of floor and bodywork, those sorts of things."
Wednesday 28th September 2011
Mercedes GP hope to see the benefits of their latest aerodynamic upgrades during the final five races of the season.
The team introduced the updates to the W02 before this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, but although the numbers point in the right direction the team didn't see it in the results as they could only manage a P7 through Nico Rosberg.
Team boss Ross Brawn, though, is convinced they will start seeing the improvements from Japan onwards as Singapore's Marina Bay Street Circuit didn't quite suit the car's downforce levels.
"I don't think we advertised it as a big upgrade, but it was an upgrade. It seemed okay," said Brawn.
"It may not look as though our relative position has changed, but if you think back to Hungary, which was the last high downforce track, we struggled.
"So far the numbers look like we have moved forward and I think we will see the benefit in the next couple of races in particular, so it looks okay.
"We are reasonably happy with it, but it is a very difficult track to assess these things on. When we get to the next couple of tracks it should be better."
As for the updates itself, Brawn explained that the changes weren't cutting edge.
"There were several detailed aerodynamic improvements - with bodywork and tuning," he said. "It was nothing radical - just going through the loop of floor and bodywork, those sorts of things."
