P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes decided on Saturday at the Belgian GP that it would not run its new floor for the remainder of the F1 weekend. Is that a setback or pragmatism?
Mercedes decided not to run their new floor at the Belgian Grand Prix, despite being confident that the upgrade was not the cause of their problems during Friday practice. The upgrades were aimed at creating more downforce and enhancing the diffuser’s performance. The team faced challenges during Friday practice, with both drivers struggling with bouncing and balance issues. Mercedes opted to revert to their old floor and bodywork for wet weather conditions during qualifying. They are investigating whether the updated floor played a role in the issues faced on track. Despite the challenges, Mercedes managed a competitive qualifying result, with Hamilton starting fourth and Russell seventh on the grid. Hamilton was optimistic about their performance in the wet conditions but acknowledged the tough competition ahead in the race.
