The German manufacturer introduced a major update at the Monaco Grand Prix, which included new sidepods, revised front suspension and floor tweaks.
While the nature of the Monte Carlo street track meant it was hard to gauge exactly how much of a step forward the new parts delivered, the team was encouraged by the first signs from the changes.
However, team principal Toto Wolff says that a key aspect that now needs addressing is sorting out the rear balance, a characteristic has robbed both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell of confidence when attacking corners.
Speaking about the conclusions of the upgrades, Wolff said: “The car felt together, which is important, but it’s still a bit nasty on the rear. So that's something which we need to dial out of the car for the next few races.
“But we have a new baseline and that's important to say: 'Okay, this is what we have now.'
“We've taken questions off the table where we weren't sure of, be it the front suspension or the extravaganza of our bodywork. So, let's work from here.
“We're good at grinding away and the work that was done in the factories to bring that update here to Monaco from our team, it was really a big effort.”
This weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix will provide a much better opportunity for Mercedes to understand its upgrade, with the medium and high-speed demands of the Barcelona circuit perfect for evaluating aerodynamic performance.
Source: Autosport