Wolff outlines main aims for Mercedes Imola upgrade

Toto Wolff has outlined the main aims of Mercedes upgrade package that will come at the next race in Imola.

It has been a troubled start to the 2023 season for the team with the W14, as the team has struggled with the setup of their car concept.

For Imola the team will bring an update package that Wolff has already branded "large surgery" aimed at discovering why their car is "poisonous" when it comes to setup.

The Mercedes team boss has shed more light on what that upgrade package will achieve for the team, as it looks to change its fortunes.

"I think what we're trying to do with the upgrade is to create a new baseline for us to take question marks and variables out of the equation, and to say 'This is not a problem now that we have gone to a different spec' and that is, for example, front suspension," said Wolff to media, including RacingNews365.com.

"We are also looking at bodywork solutions that are - let's say - more conventional than others, that will create a different airflow.

"It's almost like a reset to what would have been a good start 12 months ago, and then to try to add performance to the car. But at the moment it's just the lack of understanding."

Wolff: I don't believe in miracles

Wolff believes it is important to improve the "predictability" of the W14 for both drivers, rather than focus on one specific area that could bring marginal gains.

"I don't believe in miracles. But I think that the stability of the car and the predictability for the drivers is sub-par," he explained.

"If you believe to sort that out, helped by a front suspension redesign, then that's definitely a good avenue and this could be [worth] more than a tenth or two on lap time, but the aerodynamic package brings more from simply unlocking more drivability and pace."

Mercedes has been cautious about overpromising on what any upgrades might achieve in the short term, but Wolff reiterates that he does not expect this to unlock hidden performance.

He added: "No other car should be moving forward immediately. But we know what we want to deliver in terms of aerodynamic performance, and hopefully also better behaviour of the car."