Mercedes has not been having an enjoyable 2023 season. Toto Wolff and co. have not only been playing second fiddle to their fierce rivals, Red Bull. But also a plethora of bad luck and questionable team strategies have plagued their current season. However, Wolff seems to be preparing for the 2024 season, as an F2 prodigy is set to participate at the Mexican Grand Prix.
After a misfortune at the United States Grand Prix, Mercedes and Toto Wolff have their eyes set on the Mexican Grand Prix. With the 2024 season being the primary target now, Wolff is ready to let the F2 driver, Frederick Vesti, get a taste of an F1 car. The 21-year-old prodigy is being given the opportunity, while McLaren and Ferrari are right after the Silver Arrows. Is Wolff handing over the Mercedes reign to the next generation?
Toto Wolff prepares for the future
With upgrades already being introduced at the US GP, Mercedes seems to focus on learning as much as possible for the 2024 season. And the Mexican Grand Prix just might be the ultimate testing ground for them! With the W14 being nowhere near as competitive as the RB19, the Silver Arrows have to make sure that they test everything at the Autodrome.
Wolff has recently spoken about the Mexican GP and the challenge that its track presents. He stated, “The Mexican weekend is always an exciting weekend, the fans are super passionate and full of energy. The location of the track is a unique challenge, with the high altitude having a significant impact on the functioning of the car and finding the optimal solution is not easy. It will also be a good test for our upgrade package, to see how it performs on a very different circuit. It will be useful for our learning and development for the W15.”
On top of this, Wolff also talked about Vesti, holding him in high regard. He further added, “In FP1 we will see Fred Vesti in the car: he performed well in F2 and I am sure that he will be able to do a good job.” It’ll remain to be seen how the F2 prodigy will be able to handle the W14, along with its upgrades.
Can Mercedes bounce back at the Mexican Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff were disappointed after disqualification due to the race-plank cheek rule at the US GP. However, Mercedes should not be too disappointed. Despite crucial points gone in a highly competitive season, the pace showcased by the Silver Arrow drivers was quite promising.
Not only did Hamilton almost catch up to Max Verstappen at COTA but also showed glimpses of his best self. If the upgrades introduced by Mercedes at the Mexican Grand Prix end up suiting the track significantly well. Not only will then be able to bounce back strong but also have good news for W15, next season’s car. Let’s hope that we get to see Red Bull and Mercedes battling out at the front row, soon enough!
With the Mexican Grand Prix approaching, Toto Wolff has handed the F2 driver, Frederick Vesti, the keys to W14 for the FP1. Only time will tell whether the youngster will be able to set his foot at F1. But with the upgrades playing a crucial role, the Silver Arrows can certainly bounce back at the Autodrome. Stay tuned to look out for further updates!
