Mercedes plan to 'experiment' at the Miami GP as they look to make vast improvements. The Silver Arrows have struggled so far this season and drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have managed just two podium finishes between them so far.
The seven-time champion could only finish 13th last time out in Imola, and Toto Wolff apologised on the team radio for the 'undriveable' cary car. A major area of concern for the reigning constructors champions is the proposing phenomenon, which forces the car to bounce up and down.
Mercedes' 'disappearing sidepod' concept appears to make the problem more difficult to solve and has hampered them so far this year. However, team principal Wolff has said they have taken some lessons from the Imola disaster and aim to try out some new methods in Florida.
Ahead of the inaugural Miami race, the team principal explained: "Since we returned from Italy, we've learned as much from the weekend as we can and, in parallel, our learning has continued in the wind tunnel and simulations. We have found several directions for improving the car, and we will be conducting experiments in Miami to correlate those simulations, and hopefully confirm the development path for the coming races.
"Both drivers have been working in the simulator ahead of Miami and the factories have been busy producing updates for the next races." Reflecting on the difficulties of the season so far, a determined Wolff added: "The saying 'smooth seas do not make good sailors' comes to mind.
"This team has shown its resilience over many years and the difficult start to this season has lit a fire within every team member, determined to put it right."
The lights will go out in Miami on May 8 and Hamilton claims to be feeling the nerves already and during an appearance on Good Morning America, the F1 legend explained the magnitude of the event and the sport's growing popularity in the States.
"It has been nerve-wracking because I think it's going to be such a huge event for us," he said. "We obviously have the race in Austin, Texas, which has always been amazing. The first race I had out here was Indianapolis in 2007.
“With the Netflix series Drive to Survive growing, we have two Grand Prix in the States and another one in Vegas next year, so it's going to be huge. I think [F1 has cracked the US market] now. This Netflix show has just brought massive awareness, especially through the pandemic, and now it's booming."
