'Mercedes debuting modified floor design before Imola GP'

During the winter tests and three free practice sessions it became clear that Mercedes have sabotaged part of their advantage over the rest of the grid by adopting a low-rake floor concept. Already, before the first Grand Prix of the season there are voices suggesting the team is working on changes to the floor in an attempt to regain the lead.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport Toto Wolff has now scheduled the redevelopment of the Mercedes W12 floor design. This will, according to the Italian news medium, already be on display before the second Grand Prix at Imola.

Mercedes hopes to close the gap with Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based team seems to have made the better choice in terms of floor and absorption of the changed aerodynamics, but the question remains how long they will keep this advantage.

Mercedes drivers struggle

During free practice on Friday and Saturday, the two Mercedes racers, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, still struggled with the balance of the W12. Bottas even called the car "undriveable" on Friday.