Has time passed for real major upgrades to F1 racecars this year?

[John S]

I noticed a sentence tucked inside an article about Merc upcoming upgrades on GPfans.com, today (see below).
Toto admits that Merc wind tunnel was shut for on going 23 car aero work a while ago. How long ago is anyones guess. 

Surely most other teams must be in a similar position, Vasseur at Ferrari has also said that major stuff on SF23 is now over & only small additions will be coming in future races.

Now does that mean, despite Toto's claim of major bits coming, we are unlikely to see any really big changes amongst teams on 23 spec cars, aside from track specific improvements from some cars due to in built high or low downforce designs? 

Any guesses about which teams will be targetting individual races  to try and get the better of the rest?

My money is deffo on Merc throwing everthing they've got at Brazil race, RBR seem to have an achilles heel at São Paulo track, Merc have gone exceptionally well there in 21 & 22. Any bets on Merc taking new PUs into their pool at Mexican GP, but only using them in practice sessions, saving them for Brazil? 

The team is still without a win past the halfway point in the season, but Mercedes’ team principal has revealed that more major upgrades for the W14 are in the pipeline.

“The pieces are coming, they’ve already been produced or going to get produced. The wind tunnel has been closed for a while now for this year's car. But we have things coming,” Wolff explained.

Coutesey George Brabner, GPfans.com, today.

[Andy B]

I've read that Mercedes are already well into the 2024 car and a lot of the design on that will not fir the current car so looking forward to that!

[cosworth151]

It doesn't surprise me at all that they've written off the 2023 season. Their money, time and effort would be better spent prepping for 2024.

[Andy B]

Can they use 23 money for the 24 car?

[John S]

Can they use 23 money for the 24 car?

Now that's an interesting question Andy, in the strict sense a big NO!

Teams have to account for wind tunnel, CFD & fabrication according to year stuff is for, especially if it's the following year. They won't want to go over budget in 23 so will allocate stuff automatically to 24 if it's not going on car this year.

There must be some slippage or mis reporting, but probably only minor, FIA can ask for documents, computer logs & other stuff to verify which is for what - so to speak.

We'll still see upgrades for most teams at coming races, as Toto says things are in the pipeline. It often takes time to bring new upgrades to cars, Sim work and computer time to validate worth & then fabrication time followed by more testing in practice sessions & Sim before signing off an upgrade for race use.

However if 24's car is a further iteration of the chassis/aero/wings, etc from 23 then they will keep bringing upgrades/parts this year as long as cost cap allows since the extras will be relevant to the 24 car - but crucially come under 23 budget.

In reality I guess most teams will be looking for a new path in 24 since Red Bull are so dominant. Leading teams wont catch Red Bull up with a 23 B spec car, or even a 23 C or D.

Ironically perhaps Red Bull are the only big team who can get by with a 23 B or C spec for 24. Will they though? Who knows? They pulled a suprise this year with a totally new chassis concept, so why not next term. 

[Willy]

With RB running away with the season it makes no sense financially to throw more cash at a 23 car that won't catch the RB anyway.
Put all resources into the 24 car and hope it will be more competitive then the current car.