P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes plans Miami F1 upgrades as Russell urges back-to-basics approach
The German manufacturer faced challenges in China as Lewis Hamilton’s promising second place finish in the sprint did not translate to the main race, with Russell finishing in sixth and Hamilton in ninth. The team is struggling to unlock the full potential of its W15 car, despite major setup changes not yielding significant improvements in performance. Team boss Toto Wolff attributes the oscillations in performance to the difficulty in setting up and driving the car, suggesting it’s driving on a knife-edge. Russell believes Mercedes should focus on adding downforce rather than chasing a perfect setup, emphasizing the need for aggressive development and upgrades. He feels that, regardless of the concept, maximizing downforce is crucial for performance and looks forward to seeing how the upcoming upgrades will perform in Miami.
