F1: Mercedes Set to Bring Major Upgrades for W14 to Silverstone Grand Prix

Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes F1, has announced that the team would field updated versions of the W14 at the British Grand Prix. Mercedes, having given up on the zero sidepod idea in Monaco, has climbed to the second spot in the Constructors' standings, thanks to a double-podium finish in Spain and a podium for Lewis Hamilton in Canada. Wolff has confirmed that the next stage would be a significant improvement package at Silverstone, indicating that the Monaco enhancements were never intended to get the team fighting Red Bull. The British driver is now 93 points behind the Red Bull star, Max Verstappen, in the Formula One standings. Teammate George Russell's performance in the Mercedes has not been any better. The British driver sits two places behind Hamilton on the standings in sixth position, owing to his point-scoring troubles. Neither Hamilton nor Russell has won a race this season, although both have secured podium finishes three times.

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F1: Mercedes Canadian Grand Prix Performance

In the early stages of the season in Bahrain, Mercedes recognized the need to change their approach after facing difficulties for nearly 18 months since the introduction of ground-effect vehicles in early 2022. During the Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes unveiled their new front suspension, floor, and sidepods, although the layout of the circuit made it difficult to assess the effectiveness of these updates.

A week later, at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton validated the package by securing a second-place finish, albeit 24-second behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen. While Mercedes wasn't expected to be competitive at the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton and teammate George Russell qualified third and fourth, respectively.

Despite a disappointing race for Russell, who crashed into the wall on lap 12 and retired on lap 55 due to brake issues, Hamilton managed to finish third, trailing Verstappen by 14 seconds. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso secured second place for Aston Martin.

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F1: McLaren Plans Major Upgrades at Silverstone Grand Prix

In preparation for the 2023 season, McLaren has planned a significant revision of their MCL60 car between the Austrian and British Grands Prix. The team aims to complete these updates before the summer break, ensuring timely improvements. The decision comes after their close competitor, Alpine, made significant progress in the constructor standings during the Monaco weekend. To bridge the gap, McLaren's Technical Director Andrea Stella announced upgrades that are expected to be "competitive" and set the MCL60 apart from its current version.

In further efforts to enhance their competitiveness, McLaren has made a key personnel change. Rob Marshall, formerly associated with Red Bull, will join the McLaren team as the Technical Director of Engineering & Design, starting on January 1, 2024. This strategic move reflects McLaren's commitment to strengthening the team and improving their overall performance.