P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff explained a damaged front wing cost George Russell “20 points of downforce” in the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
George Russell, driving an older spec Mercedes W15, initially outperformed team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the upgraded car during the first half of the Sunday race. However, Hamilton managed to overtake Russell in the second phase of the GP, securing fourth place. Damage to Russell’s car after his pit stop proved to be costly, as the collapse of a front flap led to a significant loss of downforce, affecting his performance for the remainder of the race. Despite the difficulties with the upgrades, both Russell and Hamilton faced challenges in maintaining stability on the track, with Russell’s damaged front wing hindering his ability to fend off Hamilton. Mercedes’ struggles to adjust to the upgrades were evident in both Russell’s crash during qualifying and Hamilton’s retirement in Austin, highlighting the need for further data analysis and improvements to the car’s performance. The upcoming race in Brazil will serve as an opportunity to gauge the car’s stability and performance across different speed factors, as the team aims to make necessary adjustments to enhance their competitiveness in the future.
