BasCB commented on the post, Pictures: First look at Mercedes' major changes to its W14

The first images of Mercedes’ upgrade package for its W14 for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix reveal revised sidepods among other changes.

Mercedes had planned to bring major upgrades to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix last weekend at Imola before the race was cancelled due to the impact of flooding in the region. The team will instead introduce the upgrades this weekend around the slow and tight street circuit.

As expected, the updated W14 features new bodywork which marks a departure from Mercedes’ previous ‘zero sidepod’ concept, a feature of last year’s disappointing W13 design which only won a single race. Other changes introduced to the car for this weekend include a revised floor and modified suspension.

Prior to the weekend, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said that the team’s first major upgrades package of the season would not be a “silver bullet” that would propel them into championship contention. However the team’s engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, said the modifications to the team’s car would mark the “first step” towards addressing the car’s shortcomings.

“We do hope it is quicker, we hope it is better in terms of qualifying and race pace,” said Shovlin.

“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.”

Mercedes sit third in the constructors’ championship standings with 96 points, six behind their power unit customers Aston Martin. The team has taken just a single podium finish over the first five rounds of the 2023 championship, with Lewis Hamilton securing second place in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne back in early April.

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