Mercedes Reveals Single Wing Upgrade Strategy

30/05/2024

Mercedes F1 details their decision to introduce a single upgraded wing at Monaco, with Andrew Shovlin shedding light on the rationale behind this strategic move.

Mercedes F1 deviated from their usual practice of providing upgrades to both drivers at Monaco. George Russell utilised the latest front wing specification, and Lewis Hamilton highlighted this difference by stating he did not expect to out-qualify Russell again.

Andrew Shovlin, the team’s trackside engineering director, mentioned that both drivers supported the team’s decision to introduce the upgrades earlier, without waiting for enough units for both to use.

“We hope to have enough wings for the race in Montreal,” stated Shovlin. “Typically, race quantities are at least three, because there is one for each car and a spare in case of issues. We don’t produce three at once; we make the first, then the second, and then the third.”

“The result was that we only had one that we could bring to Monaco, prepare it for Friday, and run it over the weekend. Some time ago, the drivers said, ‘Why do we always wait for a full set? Why not let one of us use it?'”

“We agreed with them that given the team’s performance situation, we needed to improve and learn, and it was good to have different specifications on the car to achieve that. We agreed with the drivers that, under the current circumstances, we would be happy to bring one to the track, and they were both satisfied with that.”

Hamilton will occasionally have priority on the upgrades.

Shovlin confirms that Hamilton allowed Russell to have the upgrade, but in future, it will be different: “There will be races in the future where we only have one upgrade, and of course, we will alternate from now on. But Lewis made this decision very easy for us.”

The engineer detailed the limitations of working on upgrades at Monaco: “There is a reason teams don’t usually bring upgrade kits to Monaco; it’s the very slow nature of the circuit, the intensity with short straights, making it very difficult to evaluate anything.”

“All the data we have seen, however, indicates that the new parts performed well and provided an advantage. Regarding the car’s feel, George was satisfied and felt it was a step in the right direction.”

“We are thus pleased with what we have seen so far. But we will learn more in Montreal and, importantly, on a circuit like Barcelona where the range of cornering speeds is broader, allowing us to really start drawing lessons.”

Shovlin Explains Monaco Wing Upgrade Rationale

Shovlin Explains Monaco Wing Upgrade Rationale. Shovlin Explains Monaco Wing Upgrade Rationale

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21 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
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2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
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Race
Date
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Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japanese Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
United States Flag
United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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