P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes’ floor upgrade was taken off both cars ahead of qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix.
George Russell explained why Mercedes decided to remove the floor upgrades brought to the Belgian Grand Prix before qualifying. The W15 had a minor floor upgrade for the Spa weekend, which was then removed before qualifying for both Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton qualified fourth, and Russell seventh, but they were expected to move up a spot due to Max Verstappen’s grid penalty. Russell mentioned Mercedes’ struggles at Spa over the past three years and the decision to revert back to known setups. The upgrades were considered part of the ongoing development, and Russell expressed confidence in their performance. He acknowledged the differences in performance at various circuits, highlighting the need to analyze and improve at Spa, a track where Mercedes historically faces challenges.
