Mercedes have admitted that they will be running the original, shorter wheel-based, MGP001 in Monaco to help the drivers keep up speed in the tight corners.
The Grand Hotel hairpin, turn 6 on the Monte Carlo circuit, is the slowest on the F1 calendar at little over 30mph and a shorter wheel-base will allow German-duo, Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, to turn tighter into the corner and clip the apex.
Rosberg will be the happier of the two to get back into the original chassis after driving it to a podium finish in 2 of the 4 opening races, the German seemed to struggle with the car’s new longer wheel-base design and revised aerodynamics, whilst team-mate, Michael Schumacher strived and managed to out-race Rosberg for the first time this season.
Former world champion Niki Lauda complemented Schumacher’s drive at the Circuit de Catalunya and claimed that “This was the resurrection of Michael.”
In addition to the chassis u-turn, Mercedes are rumoured to be developing their own F-duct system and are expected to debut it in Istanbul in three weeks time.