Wolff hopes updates will discover 'poisonous' traits of W14

Toto Wolff has revealed the upgrade package set to be added by Mercedes at Imola will be a "large surgery" aimed at discovering why the W14 is "poisonous".

The Silver Arrows have struggled to find an optimum set-up window for its car concept since the dawn of F1's new regulatory era last year, with bright sparks - such as Lewis Hamilton's second at the Australian Grand Prix - often dwindling into despair a race later.

The seven-time Champion failed to reach Q3 in Miami whilst George Russell faced a battle just to make the top 10, though both drivers staged a comeback to secure a double-top-six finish.

A long-awaited upgrade package will arrive for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with Mercedes having already promised "visible" change to its challenger, though the constraints of F1's budget cap will prevent radical changes to the core of the concept mid-season.

Large operation

"I think we are chasing downforce and we are trying to do the best possible job in terms of the mechanical platform," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365.com.

"So what we are doing is introducing new bodywork and a new floor and new front suspension. That is a pretty large operation, large surgery. There is going to be a lot of learning.

"In the virtual world, it is good lap time."

Explaining the changes will help determine the Brackley-based outfit's future development path, Wolff added: "The upgrade we are bringing is going to help us to set the direction, to understand the various areas we believe could play a role in why the car is so poisonous to drive."