Mercedes Cautious on Las Vegas Pace Predictions

Mercedes' Deputy Technical Director, Simone Resta, has issued a warning that it's challenging to predict the team's performance in the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix based on last year's event. While Mercedes holds a 32-point lead over Red Bull in the Constructors' Championship, the unique conditions of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit make direct comparisons difficult.

Why it matters:

Mercedes is in a tight battle for second in the Constructors' Championship, and strong performances in the final three races, starting with Las Vegas, are crucial. Understanding the car's potential on a demanding, cold night track is key to maximizing their points haul and securing their position against rivals.

The details:

• Unpredictable Performance: Resta stated, "It's very difficult to have a proper expectation of a performance because if you look at last year and this year, we won in all different races between last year and this year." This highlights the variability in Mercedes' performance across different circuit types and conditions.
• Unique Vegas Conditions: The Las Vegas Strip Circuit is known for its exceptionally cold temperatures during night races, which significantly impacts tire performance and car setup. This factor often makes it an outlier compared to other circuits on the calendar.
• Last Year's Success: In the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, George Russell delivered a strong performance, while Lewis Hamilton impressively climbed from 10th to finish second, showcasing the car's potential on this specific layout despite the challenging conditions.
• Team Motivation: Despite the difficulty in making direct comparisons, Resta emphasized the team's high motivation, stating, "We are going as motivated as ever into these races. We're trying to prepare ourselves in the best way. The drivers, they are both quite positive and we'll try to maximize our performance."

What's next:

The team's focus will be on meticulous preparation and adaptation to the unique Las Vegas conditions. The performance of both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will be critical in securing valuable points as Mercedes aims to solidify its second-place standing in the Constructors' Championship. How they adapt their W16 to the low-grip, cold environment will be a key storyline to watch.

Between the lines:

While direct comparisons are difficult, Mercedes' strong showing last year in Las Vegas suggests that the W15 might inherently perform well on tracks with similar characteristics, particularly those with long straights and specific demands on tire warm-up. The team's caution might also be a strategic move to manage expectations, given the tight competition and the unpredictable nature of street circuits.