Mercedes reintroduced the rear suspension package at the Montreal Grand Prix to address rear tyre overheating issues experienced with its W16 Formula 1 car this season. The team had initially debuted the revised geometry at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but set it aside for Monaco and Spain races to gather comparative data.
Despite race temperatures nearing 50C in Canada, the lack of high-load corners at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve eased Mercedes’ management of the soft tyre compounds. The team felt confident reintegrating the new suspension into the package for Montreal, although its impact on the W16’s performance remains inconclusive.
Toto Wolff acknowledged the positive development direction of the new rear geometry in tackling the rear surface overheating problem. Austria’s upcoming race will provide a significant test for Mercedes and the new suspension as temperatures are expected to rise, potentially challenging the car’s performance.
If the revised rear suspension successfully maintains consistent surface and carcass temperatures on the tyres, Mercedes could be better equipped to navigate the track’s corners in Austria. Overall, the team aims to collect more data and continue learning from each race to optimize the W16’s performance.
