F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Wolff outlines Mercedes' summer update schedule

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the Brackley squad has several more major upgrades in the works for its W14 car that will appear in the next four races.

Mercedes rolled out in Monaco last month its first all-important upgrade package that featured a revised front suspension and entirely new bodywork and floor that was a departure from the team's innovative but troubled zero-sidepod concept that was introduced last year.

Barcelona showcased the W14's improvements while last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton finished fourth further validated the changes.

But there will be more updates to come from Mercedes over the coming weeks.

"We are bringing a larger one to Silverstone, then we should have another one before [the summer] shutdown," Wolff said.

"It’s just that the learnings have accelerated a lot since we changed some of the conceptual architecture. There should be decent steps coming in the next four races."

Ahead of last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, Mercedes had projected a challenging event due to its car's dislike of slow-speed corners which featured prominently at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

While a driving error put George Russell out of contention, Hamilton battled valiantly against Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso to achieve his second consecutive podium.

Wolff's says that Mercedes is finally getting an accurate and consistent reading of its car's performance relative to wind tunnel and CFD data.

"I think we are understanding the simulations better," he said. "The time is correlating what we are seeing on track and that’s been our problem over the one and a half years.

"We’ve seen good performance gains that are coming in the tunnel, we are seeing better understanding of what the car needs in order to go fast, what the set-ups need to look like.

"So generally, the steps are getting bigger. I think we are making good inroads."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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