Fast Five: Grocott’s ‘dancing to mechanic’ journey, Barcelona decisive for Mercedes future, and other big updates

Grocott's 'dancing to mechanics' journey

Erin Grocott, a former performing arts enthusiast, transitioned to become a female mechanic for the Williams Formula One team. She discovered her passion for motorsports after attending an event with a family friend. Despite facing challenges as a woman in a male-dominated field, including inappropriate behavior from colleagues, Grocott persevered and pursued a career in motorsports. She joined the Williams team in 2021 and enjoys the hands-on work and fast-paced environment. While she has encountered discomfort in certain countries, Grocott remains determined to succeed and hopes for better treatment of women in Formula One.

Click here to read the full article by Madeline Coleman (The Athletic).

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Barcelona decisive for Mercedes future

Mercedes Formula 1 team is eagerly awaiting the Spanish Grand Prix to assess the performance of their upgraded car. The cancellation of a previous race and the unique nature of Monaco meant they couldn't fully understand its real-world capabilities. Barcelona offers the perfect opportunity for comprehensive testing. The recent upgrades mark a significant shift in design for Mercedes, aiming to improve their current car and lay the groundwork for the 2024 model. While the rear suspension remains unchanged, Mercedes continues to explore ways to enhance the car's mechanical platform, and the team acknowledges the challenge posed by Red Bull's advantage in this area. Mercedes is determined to find the right direction and make swift progress toward success, and the data gathered in Barcelona will be crucial for ongoing development and shaping the 2024 car.

Click here to read the full article by Edd Straw (the-race.com).

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Ferrari eager to address form

Ferrari's Formula 1 team is dissatisfied with their performance and is making efforts to update their car. They have dropped to fourth place in the championship behind Aston Martin and Mercedes. While other teams brought upgrades to the Monaco race, Ferrari chose to delay theirs, and this decision didn't yield positive results. So now Ferrari is accelerating their update plans and working on improving different areas, including the car, team approach, and garage operations. Ferrari's boss emphasizes the importance of every employee contributing to the team's performance, as it involves more than just aerodynamics.

Click here to read the full article by Matt Kew (motorsport.com).

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Ferrari's sidepod trick

The function of the sidepod is to cover the cooling system and control the flow going in and around the car. But compared to the other sidepod concept, Ferrari's is a little different. And the inlet of its sidepod generated some form of controversy. Let's explore the factors contributing to the debate.

Click here to watch the video.

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Influencer recounts F1 experience

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An invitation was extended to a social media influencer to attend McLaren's rehearsal, where she had the chance to meet Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. But despite the exciting encounter, she couldn't shake the feeling of embarrassment from her experience.