Hamilton ‘really excited’ to sample Mercedes’ final update

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Lewis Hamilton says he is eager to experience the upgrade implemented by Mercedes on its W14 for this weekend’s US Grand Prix and which will be the team’s final big revision of 2023.

The Brackley squad’s development programme unfolded at a steady pace over the summer, delivering to the team incremental gains that have allowed Mercedes to put a tight grip on its runner-up spot in the championship behind Red Bull.

In Austin, its car is sporting a new floor that features a raised leading edge and a forward floor edge flap that extends rearwards, with the changes destined to improve the quality of the air flow and forward floor load.

While Mercedes hopes that its new floor will boost the performance of its car, the principal purpose of the upgrade is to validate the team’s development direction for next season.

“Well, it’s been a huge amount of work back at the factory,” Hamilton said, commenting the revisions.

“This is our last big update, or the biggest of the large updates through the season, and I’m really excited to see how it feels.

“All the amazing people back at the factory have worked incredibly hard during the whole season and hopefully this really kind of tips the needle a little bit and helps us in the right direction of where we want to pursue next year.

“But yeah, I don’t know exactly all the different parts of the circuit that I’ll feel it. But hopefully it’s a global improvement and hopefully it puts us a little bit closer to the guys ahead.”

Last time out in Qatar, Hamilton suffered his first retirement of 2023. It was also a high-profile DNF for the seven-time world champion who was left stranded in the gravel trap at the first corner after a clumsy run-in with his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

It was a rare blunder by Hamilton but one that the Briton quickly relegated to the past.

“You know, the great thing about our sport is that there’s always another day to get back on the horse and just push, move forwards and nothing I can do about the past,” he said.

“There’s definitely things we can learn from, I can learn from, which I have, and just now focused on getting back in and excited for these next races that come, especially the back-to-backs.”

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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.