"Mercedes' Tough Weekend in Brazil"
Lewis Hamilton (38) ended up in eighth place, while George Russell (25) dealt with an oil temperature issue, forcing him to park his Mercedes during the Brazilian Grand Prix. The team had anticipated these results, aiming for a change in strategy after Hamilton's disqualification in Austin due to an excessive worn plank on the underbody.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff (51) expressively shared his thoughts after the race, labeling it as his "toughest weekend in 13 years." Despite their high expectations following George's victory in Brazil the previous year and Lewis securing the second position, the team failed to live up to the hype.
Despite setting the cars a little higher to navigate safety concerns, the team faced numerous other issues that affected its performance. These problems added to the Mercedes W14’s inherent underperformance, which made it a challenging weekend for the team.
Looking ahead to 2024, everything is set to change for Mercedes. In an interview, Wolff talked about the "fundamentally new car" they have in the pipeline, hoping to regain their momentum.
Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton could not capitalize on a struggling Mercedes during this weekend's race as their own performance left much to be desired. Misfortune struck the team as they struggled with issues that left them with less than impressive results.
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After the disappointing performance, Lewis Hamilton showed signs of frustration and might not attend the final Grand Prix triple header for the season. Furthermore, team morale appeared low, which indicated a significant downturn.
Toto Wolff attributed their issues to setting the cars higher than necessity in an attempt to maintain safety standards. This adjustment, however, negatively impacted their performance, especially considering the struggles of the Mercedes W14. The past few races have been tough for the organizational powerhouse that has dominated the race track for years.
