Fri Sep 20 07:08:49 UTC 2024: ## Mercedes Ditches Troubled Spa Floor, Eyes Bigger Update for Austin
**Singapore, Singapore** – Mercedes has confirmed that it will not be using the upgraded floor it introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix in Singapore this weekend, opting instead to stick with the older design.
The floor, which Mercedes hoped would improve performance for the 2024 season, showed some promising signs in testing but struggled during its race debut at Spa, resulting in the team opting to remove it for the race.
Despite further development and testing, the team ultimately concluded that the floor was not delivering the expected performance boost. This decision comes after a string of relatively underwhelming results compared to the team’s pre-summer break form.
Mercedes is now focusing its efforts on a completely new upgrade package for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, aiming for a significant performance jump.
Team boss Toto Wolff attributed recent balance issues to both the old and new floor designs, confirming that the team is still searching for answers to its current performance woes.
“We still suffered from the same balance performance that we have on the new floor. So in Singapore, we still have the same one,” Wolff said. “We need to race that. But, from Austin onwards, we would probably go to a new spec.”
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes trackside engineering director, confirmed that the Austin upgrade will be a significant step forward, hinting at a major overhaul of the W15.
“Well as you know the spec of the car is always evolving, we’re always trying to bring performance every race,” he explained. “But, at the moment, our main focus is on bringing a bigger package to Austin. Then we get into the final six races of the year and there will be smaller things beyond that. But certainly what we’re working for at the moment is a bigger update to the car at the Austin race.”
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